PDP, APC trade security breach accusations in Ondo

• PDP urges Tinubu, security agencies to caution Aiyedatiwa
• Stop baseless, unfounded allegations, APC replies

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State chapter, has raised the alarm over alleged plan by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to cause security breach in the state by intimidating opposition parties ahead of the forthcoming off-cycle governorship election.

It alleged that Aiyedatiwa had hatched out plans to use a faceless private security firm to intimidate politicians, who are not in his camp, in the buildup to the poll.

The state PDP, in a statement by Ayo Fadaka, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the candidate of the party, Agboola Ajayi, urged President Bola Tinubu to rein in the governor, stressing that it would not allow its silence to be taken for weakness.

The statement reads in part: “We posit that the appointment of Global Olabod Resources for whatever purpose is sinister and criminally designed to compromise the election through ballot snatching and intimidation of voters. Therefore, we demand that the appointment of these mercenaries be rescinded forthwith, as their activities will certainly generate an adequate response by the people.

“We reject any plan to engage Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, for any purpose in Ondo State. We note and seriously underscore that he is a harbinger of violence everywhere he goes. His roles in the last Osun State governorship election are well documented. Just as he was vanquished in that election, he will also be vanquished with consequences here if Aiyedatiwa decides to recruit him and his ragtag team for the purpose of rigging the election here.

“We abhor violence as a party, and we encourage the APC to be prepared to play by the rules, as failure to do will attract dire consequences. We may appear civil, but hereby warn that our civility is not an act of weakness.”

Reacting to the allegations, the Director, Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Steve Otaloro, described them as baseless, which he said, were crafted to malign the governor.

He said: “The governor’s commitment to peace and security in the state is unwavering, and we reject any insinuation that he plans to cause a security breach. Every action taken by the government on security is a legitimate effort to enhance security in the state, and we will not be swayed by the PDP’s mischievous interpretation.

“We also reject the PDP’s attempt to link Governor Aiyedatiwa to any act of violence or intimidation.

“We urge the PDP to focus on issue-based campaigning rather than resorting to unfounded allegations and scaremongering.

The people of Ondo State deserve better.”