The Nation Newspaper

Category: Ondo 2020

  • ZLP supporter killed in Idanre

    ZLP supporter killed in Idanre

    From Osagie Otabor, Akure

    There was protest on Thursday at Idanre town in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State, as residents trooped out to protest the killing of a young man identified as Taye, by suspected political opponents.

    Taye, a supporter of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), was reportedly killed on Wednesday night at Alade-Idanre by suspected thugs.

    Witnesses said protesters set bonfires on roads.

    A source, who preferred anonymity, said: “Taye was attacked and killed at Alade yesterday (Wednesday) around 9 pm. Those who led thugs to perpetrate the crime have escaped, but we have declared them wanted.

    “When has it become a crime to be a member of an opposition party in this state? These thugs killed the man because he simply wore the fez cap of the ZLP and was our main supporter in the community.

    “The body of Taye has been deposited at the General Hospital in Idanre. Police have begun investigation.”

    ZLP Chairman in Idanre Ademehintoye Claudus, who confirmed the killing, alleged that the killers were sponsored by chieftains of a major party in the area.

    He said: “Taye was killed because he was canvassing support for the ZLP, being a member of our party.

    “What happened has confirmed that they are calling for war in this election because they have been attacking us unchallenged.

    “In fact, the party has broken the peace accord reached at the palace of the monarch of Idanre with other parties ahead of the election.

    “We have appealed to our members and supporters to remain calm even in the face of this provocation and asked them not to take the law into their hands.”

    Police spokesman Teo-Leo Ikoro said there was political skirmish on Wednesday night at Idanre during which one person was killed. He described it as a mob action.

    “But a detachment of policemen has been sent to the town to maintain law and order.

    “Investigation has begun to arrest suspects.”

  • I‘d win in 15 LGs, Ondo ADP gov candidate boasts

    I‘d win in 15 LGs, Ondo ADP gov candidate boasts

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) Martin Olateru-Olagbebi has assured he would secure victory in 15 local government areas in the October 10 governorship election in Ondo.

    Olagbebi said he would win if residents were not hindered from attending his rallies to listen to his message.

    He urged the media to help him get the All Progressives Congress (APC) off his back and allow fair competition in the state.

    Speaking in an interview in Akure, the ADP candidate said he was worried about the beating and harassment of his supporters especially in Owo where he and Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu hail from.

    Olagbe stated he has petitioned the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to inform them of what he is suffering.

    He said it was wrong for his supporters to be harassed for putting on his campaign paraphernalia.

    According to him: “I am not worried about defeating Akeredolu. I only appeal to the media and people of like minds to appeal to the ruling party to create an enabling environment.

    “Let everybody compete fairly. Instead of muscling people with guns, bottles, and not being able to campaign.

    READ ALSO: ADP candidate faults Akeredolu on tuition fee reduction

    “My hometown, Owo, has been decimated with the ruling party supporters saying the town must have only one party.

    “If the Governor is confident that he doesn’t have a problem, he should allow free and fair contest. Nigeria is not a one-party system. If he has done a fairly good job, he should not be worried.

    “I am not worried about winning. I am worried about fair competition. I have taken my case to the Commissioner of Police and INEC to let them know what we are going through because in order to get free and fair elections.

    “There should be free and fair competition. Why is everybody unable to speak their mind? Why are they attacking my people? I spent my hard-earned money to put all these up.

    “All public facilities are plastered with posters of the ruling party. Allow free and fair competition and allow people to listen.

    “Don’t let people be afraid to attend rallies to listen without being feared of being maimed and attacked. We have made a report. I am a Prince from Owo. Why should anybody said my party cannot be free in Owo?”

  • Ondo 2020: INEC to engage 17,000 ad hoc staff

    Ondo 2020: INEC to engage 17,000 ad hoc staff

    By Osagie Otabor, Akure

    A total of 17,000 ad hoc staff would be recruited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the October 10, governorship election in Ondo State.

    Of the figures, 15,000 would be members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) while the remaining 2000 would be staff of federal tertiary institutions to be engaged as supervising presiding officers, collation and returning officers.

    National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) of INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, disclosed this at a one day workshop organised for journalists on Election Processes and Procedures

    Okoye insisted that voting at the Ondo and Edo elections would commenced by 8:30am and close by 2:30pm.

    Read Also: Ondo 2020: I’ll defeat Akeredolu, Jegede, says Agboola

    He lampooned a legal practitioner, Mr. Femi Emodamori, who issued an open letter asking the electoral body to publish personal details of Ondo Deputy Governor and candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, Agboola Ajayi.

    Okoye said Emodamori need to be trained on how to get certified true copies of candidates’ credentials from the electoral body.

    He said the Commission has never denied anybody that applied properly for copies of details of candidates.

    Okoye cautioned journalists against announcing election results saying such powers reside with the Returning Officers.

    He also warned against making attempts to find out how voters voted during the polls.

    The INEC Commissioner said the commission was prepared to conduct the election in line with COVID-19 protocols in partnership with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

    Okoye stated that basic Personal Protective Equipment including face mask, sanitisers, infrared thermometers and disinfectants would be made available at polling units for its staff.

    On the call for the replacement of some Commissioners, Okoye explained that experienced matters in the operation of INEC.

    He said asking all INEC Commissioners to leave at once was detrimental as new ones would have to spend about two years to learn how the electoral body operates.

  • Ajayi: why I will defeat Akeredolu, Jegede

    Ajayi: why I will defeat Akeredolu, Jegede

     Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    ONDO State Deputy Governor and governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Agboola Ajayi, has given reasons he will emerge victorious at the polls on October 10.

    He boasted that he would defeat the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede and the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Ajayi said the ruling APC had failed the people with what he termed lacklustre performance of Governor Akeredolu, adding that the PDP had no structure to win election in Ondo State.

    The deputy governor spoke while receiving former PDP members in Okitipupa Local Government, led by a former governorship aspirant, Mr. Banji Okunomo and an ex-chairman of the local government, Mr. Solomon Bitire.

    He said PDP breached the zoning arrangement and would, therefore, be punished by voters.

    Read Also: Ondo 2020: Ajayi joins ZLP

    Ajayi said the achievements of Akeredolu in the last three and a half years fell short of people’s expectations, as the governor had personalised government.

    In Akure South where Ajayi received some former APC members led by the party’s Secretary, Mr. Olukayode Abiodun, the deputy governor said the people would punish Akeredolu with their votes.

    He hailed the defectors for displaying high level of patriotism.

  • ‘Politicians plant toxic waste deaths report to discredit Akeredolu’

    ‘Politicians plant toxic waste deaths report to discredit Akeredolu’

     Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    ONDO/Linyi Industrial Hub has alleged that some politicians were behind the reported death of three persons by toxic waste from Wewood Ltd, one of the firms operating in the hub.

    It said the purpose was to discredit the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu administration ahead of the October 10 election.

    Three residents of Akinfosile in Okitipupa Local Government, Mr. Akinmusire Monday (35), Mr. Samuel Louis (45) and Master Ododolewa Adebowale (19) were found dead in the forest where they went to fell timber.

    Their bodies were soaked in substances believed to be toxic waste, which overflowed after the pit where it was being stored collapsed.

    The Chairman, Ondo Industrial Hub, Chief Alex Ajipe, speaking in an interview in Akure, said the report emanated from enemies of progress “who want to use the incident to undermine the image of our company and that of the Ondo State Government because of the coming election.”

    Read Also: Ondo: ‘Akeredolu has performed well’

    Ajipe said the allegation that the deaths were from toxic waste from Wewood Ltd was  distasteful and regretful, adding that it was shameful for some people to deliberately embarked on peddling falsehood in a desperate attempt to discredit a company making impact in changing Ondo State to an industrial hub.

     

  • Be ready to pay more taxes if Akeredolu returns, says YPP candidate

    Be ready to pay more taxes if Akeredolu returns, says YPP candidate

    Our Reporter

     

    MR. Dotun Ojon, the governorship candidate of Young Progressive Party (YYP), has said citizens should be ready to pay more taxes if Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is re-elected.

    He said in a statement made available to reporters in Akure that paying more taxes would further impoverish the people.

    “As we speak now, salaries are still being owed, while pensioners are not allowed to enjoy the fruit of their labour.

    “It is curious to note that the government at this time is talking about giving palliatives to political parties, while its core objective is being neglected.

    “With what was displayed on Saturday, we know the plan of the government is nothing short of taxation – no wonder the only project inaugurated is a tax house.”

     

     

     

  • NLC, NUJ, others invite candidates for debate

    NLC, NUJ, others invite candidates for debate

     Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    CANDIDATES of parties contesting the October 10 governorship election have been invited to a debate organised by Face the Voter Initiative, a non-partisan and independent Ondo State-based stakeholders in the civil society and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    The debate, according to the organisers, is to create an effective interface between candidates and the people in the first instance, and among the candidates themselves, to deepen political conversation for better voter perception.

    The Chairman of the initiative, Dr. Gbenga Abimbola, speaking at a news briefing in Akure, said public debates among candidates seeking elective positions have become a norm in advanced democracies and gradually being embraced in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Three die after inhaling toxic fumes in Ondo

    He listed other collaborating bodies to include the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), National Orientation Agency (NOA), broadcast media such as the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC TV), ORANGE FM, SUNSHINE 96.5FM, BREEZ 91.9FM and other stations operating in the state, Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN).

    Abimbola said no candidate would be forced to attend the debate.

    He noted that the goal of election debate was to promote political tolerance, constructive dialogue and selfless service to the people.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Don’t use Amotekun against opposition’

    ‘Don’t use Amotekun against opposition’

    Our Reporter

     

    THE Action Alliance (AA) has urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu not to use the local security outfit, Amotekun, against opposition parties before, during and after the Ondo State governorship election holding on October 10.

    The National Secretary of the party, Mr. James Vernimbe, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said although his party was fit, prepared and ready for the election, it wanted the checkmating of the use of the Amotekun during the election.

    “We urge the Ondo State Government not to use ‘Amotekun’ security agents against the Opposition during the poll.

    “We also urge security agencies to be neutral before, during and after the election,” he said.

    Read Also: Ondo 2020: PDP ex-spokesman joins ZLP

    Vernimbe enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to uphold its tenets and principles during the electoral process.

    He said AA would conduct itself in accordance with election guidelines and regulations and was hopeful to emerge winner on October 10.

    Vernimbe advised supporters of the party and residents to conduct themselves properly and shun all forms of violence during the election.

  • Former attorney-general resigns from PDP

    Former attorney-general resigns from PDP

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    AN ex-Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the administration of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Mr. Remi Olatubora, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    His resignation is happening 24 hours after a former governorship aspirant and state spokesman for the PDP, Banji Okunomo, resigned and joined the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    It was gathered that Olatubora submitted his resignation letter to his party’s ward Chairman, Apostle Medunoye, last Saturday.

    Read Also: Ondo 2020: Ex-Attorney General resigns from PDP

    Olatubora, before his resignation, was the leader of the PDP in Irele Local Government. He once served as chairman of Ondo State Sports Council and a later became commissioner for Adult and Vocation Education before he was appointed attorney-general and commissioner for Justice.

    One of his aides, who confirmed the resignation, said many PDP leaders in the locality would soon abandon the party and defect to the ZLP.

    The aide said Olatubora was yet to make up his mind on which party to join, although ZLP governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, has reached out to him.

  • Ondo 2020: I’ll defeat Akeredolu, Jegede, says Agboola

    Ondo 2020: I’ll defeat Akeredolu, Jegede, says Agboola

    By Osagie Otabor, Akure

    Ondo State Deputy Governor and governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) Hon Alfred Agboola Ajayi has stated reasons why he would emerged victorious at the October 10 governorship election.

    Agboola boasted that he would defeat both candidates of both the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Eyitayo Jegede and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    He said the ruling APC failed the people of the state with what he termed lackluster performance of Governor Akeredolu while he said the PDP has no structure to win election in the state.

    The Ondo Deputy Governor spoke while he receiving former PDP members in Okitipupa Local Government led by a former governorship aspirant, Mr Banji Okunomo and a former chairman of the local government, Mr Solomon Bitire.

    He said the PDP breached the zoning arrangement in the state and therefore would be punished by voters.

    Read Also: Ondo 2020: Ex-Attorney General resigns from PDP

    Agboola stated that the achievements of Akeredolu in the last three and half years fell short of people’s expectations as the governor has personalised government.

    In Akure South where Agboola received some former APC members led by the party’s secretary, Mr Olukayode Abiodun, the Deputy Governor said the people would punish Akeredolu with their votes.

    He hailed the defectors for displaying high level of patriotism.

    His words “PDP and APC are dead in Ondo South. We can postpone burial ceremony, but you cannot wake up the dead political parties.

    Okunomo said he joined the ZLP to rescue the people from the misrule of Akeredolu’s family.

    His words “I contested with Ajayi in PDP. He was the newest in the PDP race and came second. He contested within three weeks. The youth have the opportunity now to elect one of us.

    “We don’t want someone who will increase the school fees. We don’t want a governor who will make life difficult for the people of Ondo State.

    “The PDP made the mistake of 2016 by presenting a candidate from a wrong zone. The PDP lost in 2016 and will lose in this election because it failed to look at the local content of zoning.

    “It is not that PDP is not a good party but the handlers have mismanaged the fortune of the party.”