The Alliance for
Democracy (AD) in Ondo State yesterday alleged that both the All Peoples
Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made good their
threats
to rig and win this election at all cost by embarking spate of intimidation,
heavy monetisation and outright manipulation of the ballot materials in the
on-going election in the State.
The spokesperson of
the Olusola Oke campaign Organization, Mr Bisi Kolawole in a statement
disclosed that it was unfortunate that the APC, whose mantra of a complete
change to a corruption free Nigeria was now the very apostle of corruption,
intimidation and outright manipulation of votes by heavily monetizing the
voting processes in the election.
His words: “They
have threatened to win this election at all cost and they have demonstrated
their willingly to make their prediction come true. Our leaders were brutalised
and hounded out of their homes in order to scare them and their supporters from
the polling booths, they have brought in loads and loads of money to buy votes
due to the pangs of hunger which they brought unto the people.
“Yet, they say they
are fighting corruption. Again, the PDP too have been attacking us including
our Candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, they are now buying votes in the full glare
of all shamelessly to continue pillaging the State.
“From all over the
State reports have it that cases of electoral manipulations are on-going, the
PVC cards readers are not functioning properly and appears to have been
compromised as they show figures different what are usually recorded in the
accreditation exercise.
” In Kiribi town Ese
Odo local government, the hometown of the APC Deputy governor candidate, Mr
Agboola Ajayi, leaders and members of the AD were chased out of their home to
prevent them from voting and scaring their supporters away. Indeed, a former
caretaker Chairman of the local government and also native of Kiribo, Mr Akin
Sowore narrowly escaped being arrested by armed men in police and army uniforms
who stormed his home in the community at exactly 1;30 am and up till the end of
the election, these security men were harassing the electorate and chasing them
from the polling units
“In Supare, in Akoko
South West local government which is the hometown of Mr Victor Olabintan, the
Director General of the Rotimi Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, thugs loyal to
him prevented members and supporters of the AD and other parties from voting in
Unit 6, Ward 10, where he usually votes. They completely surrounded the polling
booth ensuring that nobody voted for another party save APC aside chasing away
all known AD members.
“In Akure,
specifically Ward 5, Units 17 and 18 situated inside the Alagbaka Primary
School, the Special Assistant to Governor Mimiko, Mrs Taye Afilaka, was
initially arrested by the police and taken away for electoral infractions only
to resurface about two hours later with money which they started sharing out in
the full glare of security agents to anybody willing to vote for the PDP. In
Unit 23, Ward 10, Akure South local government area, the State Chairman of the
Okada riders association, one Ojo Obabi led his thugs in thump-printing ballot papers with the aim of swapping them
with those from the polling units later.”
The AD, while
commending the resolve of the people to vote for it candidate, Chief Olusola
Oke, urged them remain calm and not to be intimidated by those which it
described as men of straws saying that in the end, the will of the people would
prevail.
Ondo Election: Live Updates
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