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Tag: Ondo Election

  • ‘APC plans to rig Ondo election’

    A socio-political organisation, Ondo Rebirth Network (ORN), has raised the alarm over alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the November 26 governorship election.

    Rising from an emergency meeting in Akure yesterday, the group, which is championing the cause of Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship candidate, Olusola Oke, alleged that the APC has perfected plans to rig the election in favour of its candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    The group’s coordinator, Ayo Ologun, said: “The reality is hitting them daily despite their grandstanding and empty propaganda. Rotimi Akeredolu has become crestfallen after all exit polls have revealed that the APC cannot get more than 27 per cent of the votes in Ondo State.”

    “APC plans to release fake exit polls announcing APC victory before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would release the official results.

    “We therefore call on the people and the international community to be wary of the antics of the APC.”

    But the APC’s director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said the APC does not need to rig before it wins.

     

  • ‘Akure division holds ace in Ondo election’

    ‘Akure division holds ace in Ondo election’

    Michael ‘Laolu Adeyeye, one of the governorship aspirants in Ondo State contesting under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf  is optimistic that the Akure political division in the state will help the party clinch victory in the forthcoming polls. Excerpts:

    WHAT are your chances in the forthcoming election in Ondo state? In the current scheme of things I stand a very good chance in the forthcoming election. This is because in the first instance, l’m the candidate that appeals to the length and breadth of the state. I’m a candidate that appeals to the different demographics, l appeal to both the young and the old. I appeal to the largest and strongest senatorial district in the state, which is the central senatorial district. I’m a candidate that can provide for that district competent representation and at the same time l’m able to connect with people from other senatorial districts. I’m a candidate that has insight into what needs to be done to make the state develop, particularly in the south and the north.

    How well have you been able to sell your credentials to the people that matter both within the party and the state in general?

    By the grace of God we have been able in this one year of running this race to pass a message that is very clear across to the rank and file of our party. We’ve been able to also pass that message across to the citizenry. So even beyond our party and community leaders, people of influence in the society and the people have become aware of our message: A message to provide transparent leadership, a message to provide modern governance, a message to provide leadership that is transparent and sincere. We’ve been able to communicate that and we’ve come to enjoy a lot of goodwill both at the national level within the APC, and the state Exco as well even among wards chairmen. I’m mingling with these people day in day out and we’ve had very good feedback.

    You come from the central senatorial district where the outgoing governor comes from. Some people are saying that that moreorless places you at a disadvantage? How do you react to that?

    To be quite objective, the issue of producing the candidate from Akure political division is one that is of paramount concern to both our party and to everyone in leadership of Ondo state. Of the five political divisions in Ondo state, the Okitipupa division, Ondo division, Owo division, Akoko division, it’s the Akure division that occupies a premium spot in the state, hosting the capital of the state for the past 40years.

    Akure division is the only division that is yet to produce an executive and elected democratic governor and that can be made right. We’ve seen it happen in other states like Oyo. For many years until Dr. Olunloyo came on the scene, and more recently in fact, in the recent election three of the four leading candidates for Oyo gubernatorial election were all of Ibadan origin.

    I’m not saying that it should be the only criteria. l’m just saying that it is right to do that which is not balanced by allowing Akure. And Akure has fielded an array of promising candidates led by my humble self and a few others for this election. And I believe that we should be given a chance. We should suspend senatorial rotations and pay close attention to the very sensitive issues. I want to assure you that Akure not only hosts the largest numbers of registered voters but Akure has the support of every registered voter and of every ethnic bloc in the centre senatorial district that controls about 42% of the registered votes of Ondo state. And that is a bloc to really think about. I’m not saying that the north is not important but the north is very little in number. The south is equally very important because they come second in the political calculus of the state. But it’s important that a virile candidate from Akure like myself is considered in this election.

    Talking about Akure governorship, having toured round the state how well has this agitation resonated within the leadership of the party towards the buildup to the primaries?

    In the party, the much l know is that the leaders are aware very much so of this quite agitations. In the state, party leaders are very much aware of these agitations. And more recently, we’ve heard leaders of Akure led by the Deji of Akure himself also voicing this agitation that it’s time to consider an Akure division of which again l say l lead the pack. Whether or not the party will vote in that direction or the delegates would buy into that vision is something that we would see at the primaries as l’m unable to speak for them.

    Our part is to communicate our message very clearly and to appeal to the sense of values and equity that they would tow that line and we’re doing that on a daily basis. Of course, you know in politics, especially where you have a secret ballot system, people would tell you what you want to hear and when you press and push you can only pray and hope that they’re been sincere in their submissions. But from the feelers we’ve, delegates are with us. We’ve quite a sizeable pocket of delegates who have expressed support and solidarity for us and we’re counting on them. We’ve from Ose, Akoko, Owo, Igbotako to Ikutuntun, we’ve people who are with us and who have given us their words that they would support us and they believe in our aspirations.

    Given all the preparations you’ve made you’re quite certain that the tables will turn in your favour?

    Absolutely. But as with all things human, anything can go wrong. If it goes the other way round, will you still remain with the party? I have repeatedly said this and I want to repeat for the records that l’m not one that picked the membership of the APC because it was in vogue. I picked up membership of the APC when the party was formed because I believe in the vision of the party so the outcome of the forthcoming primaries and of course, the eventual election, will not change that conviction. Let me categorically say that l’ll not tomorrow become a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because APC lost election. I’m a progressive at heart. l’m a progressive in practise and l’m a progressive by lineage and l will remain such for the foreseeable future and that is my stance on it.

    I also want to state that regardless of what the outcome of the primaries and the elections will be, it’s important that our leaders start to think about youthful inclusion in the governance of this country, especially in Ondo state. Ondo state is an underachieving state, an underexplored state. If we’re going to move Ondo state forward, we need youthful leaders with vision, modern outlook to make it happen. It’s very important. The youths need to be in governance.

  • ‘We’ll win Ondo election’

    ‘We’ll win Ondo election’

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Isaac Kekemeke, yesterday reiterated his belief that his party would win the governorship election.

    He hinged his optimism on the calibre of dignitaries who are joining the party from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) noted that the recent defection of Dr. Oluremi Akinbobola, a federal commissioner representing the state in the National Population Commission (NPC) and Mr. Akin Akingbesote, a former commissioner for commerce and industry was a welcome development.

    “My phone rings regularly from across the state, the calls are from people indicating their interest in joining the APC.”

    Kekemeke, who spoke at the beginning of the year prayer session held at the party secretariat in Akure, urged all members to thank God for the great divine favour bestowed on the party.

    He, however, implored party members to pray for God to give the party a candidate after the Lord’s heart , who is ready to contribute to the development of the state.

    The chairman said his greatest accomplishment would be to deliver the state in the next governorship election.

    “It will be a great honour and my joy to be referred to as the APC chairman who won the state for the APC.”

  • Ondo election: ACN files petitition against Mimiko’s election

    Ondo election: ACN files petitition against Mimiko’s election

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its governorship candidate in the recently conducted governorship election in Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN yesterday filed a 190-paragraph with 403 pages petition at the Governorship Election Tribunal Akure against the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Labour Party (LP).

    The party prayed for the nullification of the October 20 poll on the premise that Mimiko was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes.

    The ACN added that the election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and/or non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    The petition was filed by 21 senior lawyers, including Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN; Lasun Sanusi, SAN; Wole Aina Edward Odugbesan; Kola Olawoye; Charles Titiloye; Victor Olatoyegun and Micheal Lana, among others.

    ACN in the petition alleged that the voter register was falsified by INEC to ensure victory for Mimiko.

    It was further alleged in the petition that some named political office holders in Ondo state conived with security agents and INEC staff to rig the poll in favour of LP.

    Serious allegations of ballot hijacking, ballot box snuffing, massive multiple thumbprinting of ballot papers by LP’s agents were contained in the petition.

    The petitioners alleged that the election was marred with irregularities, non-compliance with the Electoral Act and glaring violence, malpractices and allocation of votes for LP, creation of secret unit and collation centres where the electoral fraud was perpetrated.

    Besides, it was alleged that LP deployed cash and materials to induce voters throughout the state.

    The petitioner pleaded all video clips, report of local and international observers, media, fingerprint experts, medical reports and election materials used in the conduct of the poll.

    The ACN listed 117 witnesses from all the local government areas in the state, except Owo Local Government, where it won convincingly.

  • Ondo election on my mind

    Ondo election on my mind

    Other things being equal, the governorship election in Ondo State must have come and gone by the time you are reading this piece. But the kind of security arrangements that were put in place by the police and other security outfits for the election is mind-boggling. Barely 72 hours to the D-Day, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said roads leading to Ondo State would be closed from last Thursday (October 18) preparatory to the election. Not only that, 20 armoured patrol security personnel and marine police patrol men would be provided at the riverine areas. “There will be no fishing on that day. Whatever fish you have on that day, stay at home and eat it…” Abubakar said, among other things.

    Even soldiers are not left out of the security arrangement. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) Nigeria Army 2 Division, Major-General Mohammed Abubakar gave a shoot-on-sight order against hoodlums who may want to rig election or foment trouble to disrupt the polls. In addition to the no-fishing order by the inspector-general of police, the GOC also said that there won’t even be any hunting on Election Day (yesterday). So, people who might want to carry arms under the pretext of going to hunt must have been effectively checkmated. Also, soldiers drafted for the election would get a dress code to differentiate them from fake ones that some politicians might have recruited. Again, soldiers would mount check points on major roads even as the INEC office has been heavily protected against bombing and other criminal activities.

    Now, do we blame the security agents for relying on ‘war and chariot’, as it were, to give us free and fair election? Yes and no. I will explain.” Experience”, they say, “is the best teacher”. The fact of the matter is that our politicians have not imbibed seeing election as any other contest in which there is bound to be a winner and a loser. In other words, they are bad losers. Long before former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s coinage of ‘do-or-die battle’ to describe election, elections in the country have become another kingdom of God that suffereth violence and only the violent taketh it by force.

    I agree that is not good enough, but the point is that in its 13 years of governing the country since the return to civil rule in 1999, the PDP has not taught us much lesson concerning corruption, particularly political corruption. And there is a limit to how far it can go in the matter because it is a major actor in and beneficiary of election rigging. But I plead with the army to take things easy by not killing innocent voters in the process of killing hoodlums.

    Again, the point must be made that all these security arrangements would amount to naught if they are for superficial purposes. We will only have result if the security agents were posted on election duty for genuine reasons. The point must be made too that it would be tragic if all these security arrangements are to feather the nest of any of the contending parties, particularly the federal ruling party. It would be tragic because of the peculiar history of the Ondo people who cannot tolerate their votes being tampered with.

    All said, it is important to point out that Ondo election and even the last governorship election in Edo State that returned Adams Oshiomhole, the Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN) candidate to office are now assuming the nature of serious business that elections should assume, that is minus the violence aspect. In spite of the fact that Oshiomhole ought to have been returned ‘unopposed’ based on his track record, he still had to fight the battle of his life to ward off the rampaging PDP that wanted to rattle him out of the seat.

    We saw the same thing in Ondo State. The three leading contenders for Mimiko’s job, Mimiko himself, of the Labour Party (LP), Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the candidate of the ACN, and Olusola Oke of the PDP; and particularly the first two, had been selling themselves to the people in the last few weeks. They had traversed the state in their individual attempt to woo the voters. The incumbent must have fought a battle of his life too. This is the way it should be; votes need not come cheap because when they do, they are hardly appreciated. What you do not labour for, you do not value. As they say, “no pain, no gain”. If we continue in this hard work tradition for elections, one day, the voter would be the king that he should be.

  • ACN alleges irregularities in Ondo poll

    ACN alleges irregularities in Ondo poll

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has raised an alarm over acts of thuggery, irregularities and delay in the distribution of election materials during Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

    In a statement issued in Akure, the state capital by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party t called on INEC officials and security agencies to move fast to rectify the situation.

    According to the ACN cases of irregularities have been reported in many localities in the state, with the worst-hit areas being Idanre and Okitipupa.

    In Idanre, for example, the party said thugs on motorcycles are harassing voters and agents of the opposition.

    “There are also reports of stuffed ballot boxes being moved to polling booths with the protection of Labour Party thugs.

    “In Owo, a state government Commissioner has been arrested by soldiers after he was found with weapons.

    “The widespread insecurity has led to apprehension by voters, and there is the need for security agencies to urgently deploy additional security to the affected areas.

     “Many agents of the Action Congress of Nigeria whose names were forwarded to INEC were not given accreditation tags in several polling units across the state, raising fears that ACN agents may not be able to monitor the election. INEC must immediately remedy the situation.

    “Though election materials have been distributed to many polling units across the states, they are yet to get to several polling units, more than one hour after the election ought to have commenced.

    “Specifically, materials have not been brought to Ese Odo LG Ward 1 Unit 11, as well as Akure South Ward 8 Wofere Unit.

    “Also at both Units, INEC officials have not been sighted while at the Ese Odo LG, Apoi 4, Unit 1, duplicate EC8A was presented”, Mohammed stated.

     

     

  • Stakeholders worry over electoral violence in Ondo

    Stakeholders worry over electoral violence in Ondo

    Political leaders in Ondo State are worried over the spate of violence that has characterised the governorship campaigns in the state.

    They want the security agencies to rise to the occasion. Traditional rulers and community leaders have also been suing for peace, urging rival partisan politicians to desist from heating up the state ahead of the October 20 election.

    Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader in Akure, the state capital, Chief Wumi Adegbonmire, attributed the violence to the desperation of the Labour Party (LP) Governor Olusegun Mimiko to remain in office beyond this year. He complained that thugs have been invading the ACN meeting venues to instill fear into the people. The foremost politician warned that the trick would fail because people were seriously pushing for power shift.

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer, Olusola Oke, a lawyer, has also complained that suspected LP thugs have been disrupting campaigns. But he urged calm, saying that the will of the people will prevail.

    The Director of Mimiko Campaign Organisation, Mr. Kola Olabisi, denied the allegations. He said PDP and ACN were giving the dog a bad name to hang it. “LP is a peaceful party. Ondo State was peaceful before some people invaded the state to disturb its peace. Our campaign in the Labour Party is peaceful”, he said.

    ACN spokesman Gboyega Adedipe said Olabisi was pretending. He alleged that Governor Mimiko, who is seeking re-election, has been waging war against the opposition. He recalled that violence started on April 20, 2012, when the ACN organized a memorial lecture for former Governor Adebayo Adefarati at Oyemeku Road, Akure. Adedipe said LP members stormed the venue, singing and dancing provocatively to abusive songs against the opposition party.

    “As the guests, mostly ACN members, began to arrive, the situation became rowdy as their supporters also stationed themselves outside the hall singing and dancing. The situation, however, turned violent when some invitees to the lecture, including former commissioners and special advisers who served under the late governor were prevented from entering the lecture hall by Labour Party members”, he lamented.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and police took the pre-emptive action by banning political gatherings. But it is always difficult to enforce ban on political activities in a volatile state.

    On Saturday, July 28, the convoy of the ACN candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, was attacked in Akure by thugs. The party blamed LP for the attack, which was denied by its Publicity Secretary, Kole Odogiyan. The media aide to Akeredolu, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, alleged that hoodlums hauled stones and pebbles at the convoy.

    A day before this attack, there was a clash between PDP and LP members at Ode-Irele. According to the PDP Director of Publicity, Mr. Ayodele Fadake, the clash was sparked off by government’s decision to inaugurate a community-based project on the same day that the PDP had obtained a Police permit to hold a rally in the town. “Some LP members planned to defect to the PDP and this sent the ruling party leaders jittery”, he said.

    Ajanaku said Mimiko resorted to violence because he has no concrete achievement. “This is a governor who has sought to convince the world that he has performed in all spheres, but the evidence cannot be found”, he said. Olabisi rejected this claim, saying that the governor has done much for the state, adding that people would reward him with votes next month.

    Ajanaku said gone were the days when non-performers would continue to be in public office in the Southwest. “Can we perform Mimiko to Fashola in lagos, Adams Oshiohmole in Edo? The handwriting is bold on the wall”, he added.

    Election observers warn that violence may discredit the poll in Ondo, if stakeholders fail to avert the scenario. “Politicians should engage the people with their manifesto and plans, instead of resorting to violence during electioneering,” said Tunde Imolehin, an activist, who added: ”Violence is an ill-wind that blows nobody no good.”

    Adegbonmire said an atmosphere of peace is critical to peaceful elections. “ACN is ready and we will not be intimidated. we want security agents and INEC to do a thorough job without fear or favour”, he added.

    Last month, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, warned thugs to leave the state. He warned the members of the road transport unions, who are always tools in the hands of politicians, to shun violence. “I am coming to supervise the election in Ondo myself. So, the unions should stay away from trouble”, he said.

    Resident Electoral Officer Akin Orebiyi, who spoke on phone, also assured the partied of a level playing field. “We will work with security agents to ensure an atmosphere of peace and transquility during the election”, he assured.