By Banji Ayoola
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has appealed to the presidency to contain what it alleged as growing violence in Ondo state aftermath of the just concluded council poll and ahead of the October 10 governorship election.
It said it petitioned the presidency through the security agencies.
At a press conference on Monday at its State Secretariat in Akure, the state capital, which was addressed by its State Chairman, Hon Fatai Adams, the party warned that the worrisome developments, if unchecked, have grave consequences for the state and Nigeria at large.
Adams was flanked by a former Deputy Governor of the state and a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Ambassador Omolade Oluwateru; Chairman of the party’s Elders Committee, Dr Omotayo Dairo; and State Secretary, Mr Oluseye Olujimi among others.
The party said that the violence allegedly perpetrated by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the just concluded council polls if not contained, could threaten the nation’s democracy.
Following is the full statement read by Adams, which was titled: “Hold Akeredolu and APC responsible for violence in Ondo State:”
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have invited you to intimate you with worrisome developments which have grave consequences for our dear State and Nigeria at large.
“You are all aware of the scale of violence that marred the Local Government Election conducted by the Rotimi Akeredolu led APC Government over the weekend. The outcome of the election revealed that indeed, the people have rejected policies and programmes of a Government that has pauperized them.
“APC thugs brutalised the people and vandalised vehicles where people resisted their rigging plan. These are developments that should concern all of us, because, if not nipped in the bud now, such can rob us of our hard earned democracy.
“There is this viral video where one Isaacs Kekemeke, former Chairman of APC in Ondo State openly admitted that APC thugs, sponsored by Akeredolu were responsible for destroying campaign bill boards and posters of Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, the PDP standard bearer.
“He also confessed that the NURTW will be mobilised with arms and ammunition to rig the Election in favour of APC. He admitted in like manner that Federal Might, whatever that means, will be brought to bear on the elections in Ondo State.
“We are very surprised that up till now, the security agencies have not apprehended D. I. Kekemeke to answer for his utterances that are capable of precipitating crisis, and setting Ondo State on fire ahead of the Gubernatorial Election in the State.
“His statement was careless and very reckless, unbecoming of a man who parades himself as a lawyer. By his utterances, he is a huge disgrace to his profession and party.
“We wish to put it on record that the people of Ondo State have rejected Akeredolu and his lack luster performance. Therefore threatening violence will not in any way save him from defeat. Our victory at the poll is already guaranteed as we rely on God and the good people of Ondo State.
“At this juncture, we want to appeal to all the security agencies to live up to their responsibility of protecting lives and properties before, during and after these elections.
“We are also aware that the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who Kekemeke mentioned as an accomplice, is recruiting thugs and a Killer Squad to cause mayhem in Ondo State during the election. While we want to assure our teeming supporters of our resolve to live up to this challenge, Yahaya Bello should know that Ondo State is not Kogi State.
“No one should go to this extent to subvert the wishes of the people in this brazen manner.
Lastly, as a party, we are prepared for a free and fair Election. Akeredolu and his party should do the same. But if there is any violence during this period, Akeredolu and the APC should be held responsible.”
During the Questions and Answers session, Adams said that his party is law abiding and had no plans to disrupt the elections.
His words: “As far as we are concerned, the security agencies are the representatives of the presidency. We’ve sent letter to them; and we believe that with this press conference, the whole world would be aware of what is happening in Ondo State.
“We are doing this to guarantee free, fair and credible election in our dear state, because we cannot imagine a situation where a political party is contesting elections with itself, and at the same time creating crisis, snatching ballot boxes.”
On the measures being taken by the party over the alleged violence of the ruling party, he said: “PDP is a law abiding party and we are ready to play the game according to the rules.
“We are calling on the security agencies because we believe in their professional conduct. We didn’t have any plan to disrupt the election.
“All we believe in is to reach out to people because we believe in people, and we believe that the people love PDP and our candidates. So we didn’t have any reason to be planning anything otherwise.”
On the PDP boycott of the council election which was swept by the APC, he said: “We made it known and clear before the election that we don’t believe in the Akeredolu led administration conducting any local government election.
“We said it loud and clear that it is just appointments because whatever names sent from government house to ODIEC would be announced.
“Look at the smaller parties like ADC, SDP. They won in many areas. Yet ODIEC did not announce them as winners.
“In some of the local governments, they did not even allow people to exercise their franchise. They carried the boxes by themselves because they believe that people were not ready to go there.
“In some areas, the boxes were taken to the local government councils headquarters, thumb-printed. We got some video where only one person thumb-printed the whole ballot papers in the ballot boxes made for each ward.
“Is that an election? To me, The Akeredolu led administration just wasted our resources.”
