APC and INEC planning to compromise poll, says PDP – Politics – The Guardian Nigeria News

With about 48 hours to go to the Saturday governorship election in Ondo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State chapter, has raised alarm that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was planning to compromise the poll.

While raising eyebrows over the number of paramilitaries called in for the elections, the PDP stressed that such a move is a sign of plans to intimidate opposition figures ahead of the elections.

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

Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of the Governorship Campaign Council, Eddy Olafeso, expressed concern over the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure credible procedures over what it described as some patterns that bore similarity to the elections for Edo State.

He alleged that “in the early hours of Wednesday, November 13, 2024, a very well known APC thug in Idanre Local Government Area, named Oyewole Aderemi (alias Gulder), led a group of thugs to attack PDP supporters with guns and machetes, without being provoked. .

“Seven persons were seriously injured, especially Otunba Olowoniyi Akinlemimu, who remains in the intensive care unit of the Akure State Specialty Hospital. Others are still being treated after having bullets removed from their bodies.

“To date, no arrests have been made and the attackers were given VIP treatment at the APC Grand Finale meeting where the National Chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and Vice President, Kashim Shettima, were present.”

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. In our opinion, this number is sufficient to guarantee the security of the electorate and the election materials.

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

He said the actions of members of the APC are contrary to the peace agreement signed by all parties contesting the elections.

He pledged that any attempt to compromise free, fair, credible and transparent elections would be resisted by all lawful means.

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

“For the integrity of INEC, it is imperative that the Commission be open about the transmission of election results, which was a sore point in the Edo elections.”

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

According to Adetimehin, “this statement is a fallacy. We are in the majority and we cannot associate with criminals or commit violence.”