By Banji Ayoola
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC, has failed the people of the state as it described today’s local government election conducted by the commission as a charade. It therefore called for its disbandment.
The PDP and Zenith Labour Party had boycotted the election due to perceived irregularities.
It said the commission’s performance had proved that the party was right to have boycotted the exercise. PDP is the major opposition party in the state.
ODIEC Chairman, Prof Yomi Dinakin told reporters that ten political parties took part in the election. About 7,000 security personnel were deployed statewide to monitor the exercise.
However, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, praised the commission, security agencies and political parties which it said observed all necessary rules and protocols during the exercise.
Also, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu described the election conduct as a huge success noting that it was peaceful and that the turn-out was impressive.
In a statement titled “The Ondo Local Government Election is a Charade,” by its State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, the PDP said: “The PDP Situation Room Reports from across the eighteen Local Governments Areas of the State have proved that the PDP was very right to have boycotted the charade called Local Government elections.
“It was an exercise marked with shameless impunity, unpardonable brigandage and violence.
“Twenty four hours before the election, APC thugs unleashed violence on opposition parties in Ondo town, Idanre and Owo that attempted to participate in the Election.
“In thousands of polling units, neither voting materials nor ODIEC personnel were seen at about noon on election day. Where they were seen, ballot papers were in short supply.
“We have been vindicated by all the actions of ODIEC and its Pay Masters as incapable of conducting free and fair elections. They should go ahead and announce the Election Results as previously compiled in all the Wards and Local Government Areas.
“ODIEC has not only failed the people of Ondo State. It should be disbanded as a matter of urgency, because their outing is not only a sham but shameful.”
On the other hand, the APC in its own statement titled “Council election: Ondo APC hails members’ impressive conducts”, issued by its state spokesman, Mr AlexKalejaye, said: “The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State commends its members across the state for promoting good conducts, and exhibiting enviable sense of responsibility during the local government election on Saturday.
“As stakeholders in the State’s project, members of APC, managed unprovoked attacks from members of other political parties, with unusual degree of maturity, to ensure the success of the election.
“It is unbelievable that political parties that refused to participate in the process, engaged in crude and untoward activities, all in deliberate, but futile efforts, to frustrate the process and discredit same.
“We further appeal to our members to be watchful of more provocative utterances, and calculating hostilities from other parties that are rapidly loosing credibility, and members to the ruling party.
“Ondo State APC commends the State electoral commission, ODIEC, security agencies, and political parties that observed all the necessary rules and protocols, while the exercise lasted.”
On his own, Governor Akeredolu, who voted with his wife, Betty, at Ward 5, Unit 6, Ijebu Owo about 10.44 am, was pleased with the poll’s conduct.
APC state chairman , Engineer Ade Adetimehin, was also pleased with the election’s conduct, adding that reports reaching him across the state showed that the turn-out was impressive and the election peaceful.
Some candidates of both APGA and SDP in Ayetoro in llaje council area and lju, in Akure North complained of late arrival of election materials at 1030am.
Generally, voters turn-out was low across the state.
According to
newstrack.ng, many polling units in Oba-Ile area of Akure North local
government area of the state were deserted by voters.
A visit to ward 9 in Oba- Ile showed that voting and
accreditation had not started around 8.55am when reporters visited the unit.
Also, adhoc staffs of ODIEC were not available;
though some security men kept vigil at some polling units, while some voters were seen standing waiting for the
commission’s officials.
Build-up to the election had been trailed by pockets of
violence in Idanre and Ondo West Local Government areas.
The state police command had assured that it was up to the
task of conducting a peaceful poll, as it deployed officers and men to the 18 local
government areas.
The state police boss, Mr. Bolaji Salami said no fewer than
7,000 security personnel were deployed to monitor the election.
ODIEC chairman had assured participating political parties of
neutrality. The commission had employed 7,000 adhoc staff for the
exercise.
Goverment had restricted movement statewide, excluding school
children writing Command and WASSCE examinations and workers on essential
duties.
The reported clashes in Idanre and Ondo among APC , SDP and
ADC members led to the SDP Chairman in Idanre local government , Mr Akinde
Adelanke announcing the withdrawal of his party’s participation from the
exercise.
