Ondo election: APC, INEC plotting to compromise poll, says PDP

With about 48 hours to the Saturday governorship election in Ondo State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State chapter, has raised the alarm that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been plotting to compromise the poll.

While raising eyebrows on the number of paramilitary personnel drafted for the election, PDP stressed that such a move signposts plans to intimidate opposition members ahead of the election.

According to the opposition party during a press conference, the APC had been unleashing thugs on its members, stressing that actions of the party threaten peaceful elections and also violate the peace accord signed a few days ago.

Addressing journalists, the chairman of the governorship campaign council, Eddy Olafeso, expressed concern about the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure credible proceedings due to what it described as some patterns bearing semblance with the Edo State election.

He alleged that “In the early hours of Wednesday, 13th November 2024, a very well-known APC thug in Idanre Local Government, by name Oyewole Aderemi (aka Gulder), led a group of thugs to attack PDP supporters with guns and machetes unprovoked.

“Seven persons were seriously wounded, especially Otunba Olowoniyi Akinlemimu, who is still on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the State Specialists Hospital, Akure. Others are still receiving treatment after extracting bullets from their bodies.

“Up till this moment, no arrests have been made, and the assailants were given VIP treatment at the APC Grand Finale rally in which the National Chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and Vice President, Kashim Shettima, were in attendance.”

Olafeso stressed that “The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, assured the people of Ondo State that 22,239 officers will be on duty on election day. This number, we believe, is sufficient to guarantee the safety of the electorate and election materials.

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“We condemn any attempt by the Minister of Interior to use his privileged position in government to undermine peaceful election in Ondo State.”

He said the actions of members of the APC violate the Peace Accord signed by all parties participating in the election.

He vowed that any attempt to compromise a free, fair, credible, and transparent election would be resisted through all lawful means.

“There is no amount of intimidation and threats that can save the APC from suffering a monumental defeat come November 16. We also urge our supporters not to be provoked, no matter what,” he said.

“For the integrity of INEC, it is necessary that the Commission comes clean on the transmission of election results, which was a sore point in the Edo Election.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of APC in the state, Ade Adetimehin, described the allegations of the PDP as false, stressing that the party was focused on engaging the electorate.

According to Adetimehin, “that allegation is a fallacy. We are in the majority and we cannot be going around with thugs or perpetrating violence.”