Ondo deputy governor plotting to rig with ex-militants ― Ondo PDP

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, on Thursday, raised the alarm over plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to use ex-militants to rig the forthcoming election in the coastal region of the state.

The party specifically alleged the state deputy governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, of being behind the plot, saying Agboola had concluded arrangements to rig the election after holding series of meetings with the ex-militants groups.

Speaking on behalf of the party, the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Hon Banji Okunomo said investigations revealed that Agboola had sought the support of the militants to unleash violence on the people of the area in violation of the electoral laws.

Okunomo called on the international Community, security agencies, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other prominent leaders across the country to beam searchlight on the riverine area of Ondo state during the February 16 and March 2 elections.

Okunomo said, “part of the plans against PDP includes blocking the bank accounts of prominent leaders and candidates of PDP, blocking the campaign fund account of the party, mass arrest and whisking away of PDP leaders to unknown destinations.”

The PDP spokesman disclosed that “Indication emerged yesterday that the Deputy Governor of Ondo state, Agboola Ajayi, is plotting all manners of unlawful devices to undermine the coming elections with rigging plots aimed to foist unpopular candidates against the wishes of the good people of Ondo state.

“It must be pointed out that the Deputy governor is the brain behind the splinter groups in his party (APC) leading to a situation whereby the APC is having Candidates in AA and APC simultaneously across different constituencies in Ondo State.”

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“The shrewd politician, knowing fully well that the popularity of all his candidates combined together will not be strong enough to earn them victory thereby, using crude approaches that run afoul of the law of the land.”

“Just yesterday (Wednesday), the Deputy Governor held series of meeting with ex-militia groups in Ondo state particularly from the riverine areas of the state seeking their support to hatch his illicit plans in contravention of the electoral laws.

“One of the ex-militants who attended the meeting and pleaded anonymity said that they were promised to be assisted with compromised security personnel who will be on duty during the Elections.”

Ondo PDP said, “Other unlawful strategies include blocking the bank accounts of prominent leaders of PDP, blocking the campaign fund account of our party, wanton arrest and whisking away of PDP leaders to unknown destinations.

However, Agboola described the allegation as not only false and unfounded but said the PDP in the state is jittery over its imminent defeat at the poll, saying PDP and its candidates have been rejected by the people of the coastal communities.

In a statement issued and signed by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Leke Akeredolu, admitted that the “deputy governor, who is the Chairman of the Amnesty Programme in the state met with the leaders of the ex-militants to resolve a misconception over their incorporation into the federal government Amnesty programme.”

Akeredolu, however, said the meeting was not scheduled to rig the election but to appeal to the ex-militants “who had been threatening to disrupt the elections in the riverine areas of the state to sheathe their swords and be patient with the federal government.”

He said “this allegation is both distasteful and regretful. It is also a shame that a national party like the PDP would throw caution to the wind and deliberately embark on peddling complete falsehood in a desperate attempt to discredit an election that is yet to hold.

“This action of the PDP in Ondo State is symptomatic of a political party that is being stared in the face by sure defeat at the polls.

“It is no longer news that the PDP and all its candidates have been rejected by the people after a 16-period that is characterised by looting and destruction of the unity of the country.

“The PDP in the state is merely looking for a cheap way to explain its failure at polls.”

But Okunomo maintained that the meeting was held to conclude how to disrupt the election, saying the militants had been mobilised and induced financially.

“The ex-militants were given N2M as inducement and they were asked to return for further tranches in the next few days

“We wish to call on the governor of Ondo State and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to call the Ondo deputy governor to order so as to avert a foreseeable crisis which such illegality could cause.”