Two major political parties in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), engage in desperate moves to obtain victory for their candidates while undermining decorum, as INEC the election umpire is alleged to be favourably disposed to handing victory to the ruling party at the center, APC
By Lukmon Ojerinde
Few days to the governorship election of November 16, 2024 in Ondo, indications have emerged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is allegedly poised to replicate the shenanigans that characterized the recent governorship election in Edo State in which the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo was declared winner amid protestations from the electorate.
Tentacle gathered that even security agents deployed to monitor the election and provide security have allegedly been charged by their authorities to dance to the music of INEC to ensure that the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is never allowed any opportunity to clinch victory at the election. Tentacle can authoritatively reveal that no other party contesting in the election can beat the APC in the game, courtesy of INEC alleged predetermined plot to secure victory for APC.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu had assured that the APC candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa who is also the sitting governor must emerge victorious in the guber contest. However, the two major political parties the APC and PDP on Thursday, November 15, 2024 were at each other’s jugular over the alleged violation of the peace accord signed by 17 political parties, candidates and stakeholders to ensure a credible and peaceful poll.
Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, said in Akure, the state capital, that the ruling APC members were violating the peace accord by attacking PDP chieftains, and lamented that none of the culprits was arrested by the police.
In a swift response, the APC described the claims as flimsy and baseless.
This happened on a day the Yiaga Africa and 45 other election observer groups charged security agencies and INEC to ensure that the election would be credible and violence-free.
Even though the electoral umpire, which distributed sensitive voting materials, on Thursday, November 14, 2024 firmly assured that it was ready to midwives a free and fair exercise, opposition parties took the assurance with a pinch of salt against the backdrop of the flying rumour that INEC and its officials and security agencies had been compromised.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, also gave an assurance that security agencies deployed to monitor the election would be impartial, the assurance did not find space in the minds of the electorate.
The PDP held the grand finale of its campaign, on Thursday, November 14, which was led by its National Chairman, Umar Damagum, state governors and other national leaders of the party.
State governor’s present at the campaign held in Akure, the state capital, included the Chairman PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintri; and Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State among others.
The Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council, Olafeso alleged that an attack by thugs loyal to the APC on its members in Idanre left seven persons injured.
According to him, “Otunba Olowoniyi Akinlemimu, who was seriously injured is still on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, while others were still receiving treatment after bullets were extracted from their bodies.”
Olafeso also alleged that officers of Nigeria Immigration Service, Customs and Nigeria Correctional Service have been mobilised to participate in the Ondo election.
While condemning any attempt to undermine peaceful election in the state, Olafeso said the party had cause to believe that plans were underway to arrest opposition members, especially those of the PDP.
He said the actions of members of the APC were clearly in violation of the Peace Accord signed by all parties participating in the election.
Speaking further, Olafeso insisted that “Any attempt to compromise a free, fair, credible and transparent election will be resisted through all lawful means. We use this medium to plead with all security agencies to be very professional in discharging their duties.”
In countering the PDP, the Director, Media & Publicity of the APC Campaign, Steve Otaloro, described the claims by Olafeso as baseless, flimsy, and a figment of the imagination of the opposition party.
He said that the APC was set for victory and won’t be deterred by the PDP’s allegations.
“The APC detests any act of violence, especially in an election we are poised to win given the enormous support our candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has received.
“The allegation that an APC member was involved in a thuggery act to attack PDP members at Idanre is a fabricated story aimed at tarnishing our party’s image.
“The PDP’s sudden concern about violence is a desperate attempt to divert attention from their impending defeat.
“They were intimidated by the massive turnout at our grand finale rally, which was attended by the National Chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
“We also deny the mobilizing officers of Nigeria Immigration Service, Customs, and Nigeria Correctional Service to participate in the Ondo election. These agencies are not mandated by law to play any role in election matters,” he said, and advised “the PDP to commit to the electoral process and assurances of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who has promised to deploy 22,239 police officers on election day. The PDP should stop spreading unnecessary fear and agitation.
“The APC remains committed to a free, fair, and credible election. We urge the PDP to do the same and respect the democratic process. The people of Ondo State deserve better than baseless allegations and fear-mongering.”
The Ondo state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Toyin Babalola, who monitored the material distribution exercise, held at Akure branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), assured the residents of the state, political parties and all stakeholders of the commission’s readiness to conduct free and fair election.
The commission distributed the ballot papers and results sheets at the CBN branch in Akure, while the distribution of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines took place at the INEC headquarters in Akure, in the presence of security agencies, representatives of political parties, the media, and observers.
Despite the assurances from INEC and security agencies, the PDP, and APC continue to bicker over alleged plots to compromise the election.
The PDP, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, alleged that APC leaders in Ondo had made plans to compromise the election.
Peretei alleged that the ruling party, had submitted a list of two persons who are APC members per Polling Unit to INEC to serve as Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers, even when these persons did not attend the training.
The statement read in part: “The Peoples Democratic Party Ondo State Chapter, wishes to alert the public that, the APC is banking on compromising the election at all costs, having failed tragically to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
“The entire world is watching and this move by the party’s State Chairman ,Ade Adetimehin, has vindicated our consistent call for the redeployment of Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner.
“Our party wishes to admonish all actors to play according to the rule. The entire world is watching, and nobody can hide behind one finger.”
The Director-General of the Agboola Ajayi Campaign Council, the PDP candidate, Dr Olafeso, also alleged that the APC had hired thugs from neighbouring states to disrupt the elections in some parts of the state.
According to Olafeso, “APC is preparing to bring thugs to Ondo State to fight the opposition.
“I have security information that the party is importing thugs from Ekiti, Kogi, and Edo, and we are waiting for them”.
To counter allegation, APC Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaye, said: “It is not true. We have no reason to contemplate compromising the election. We have worked very hard; we have worked for the people.
“We have campaigned across the 18 local government areas, and we are prepared. We have appealed to the people, and they have shown understanding and a willingness to support the party.
“Therefore, we have no reason to even consider compromising the election; it is simply not true. This is just one of those fabrications from the PDP.”
On the allegation that the party chairman had a list of pre-selected ad-hoc staff with the INEC to manipulate the election, Kalejaye said: “There is absolutely no reason to do that. Our strategy is to campaign. We will not go to the extent of doing anything unconstitutional just to win an election. We have done the work we set out to do, and we are confident that the people are with us. There is no reason to take any improper actions to secure a victory.”
