By Banji Ayoola
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State on Monday fired back at the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, describing that party’s claims on the last governorship election that produced Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, as baseless and an act of political desperation.
In a statement titled: “PDP’s Baseless Claims On Last Ondo Governorship Polls-An Act Of Political Desperation”, by APC Director of Media and Publicity in the state, Mr Steve Otaloro, which was sent to The Radiance on Monday, the party described the PDP claims as a bundle of lies, inaccuracies, false accusations and allegations.
The PDP had on Sunday in a story titled “Why we want Akeredolu’s election annulled,” published by this newspaper, unveiled reasons why it is challenging the governor’s reelection at the tribunal.
But the APC said: “The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) recently released a Press Statement which can best be described as a sour and unpalatable Pot Pourri of Lies, Inaccuracies, False Accusations and Allegations on why they’re challenging the re-election and overwhelming Victory of our Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in the October 10, 2020 Ondo State Guber Election, at the Election Petitions Tribunal
“Ordinarily our esteemed Party, the APC would not have responded to it but for its tendencies to mislead the unsuspecting Public and hinder the return of peace and harmony to the Sunshine State!
“However as a responsible Party, ever conscious of the need to always adhere strictly to existing Political Ethics, our response shall be expressed with caution and modesty so that we do not run foul of the law in making references to a case which is already before a properly constituted Tribunal.”
It tore to shreds PDP’s claims point by point saying: “To start with, the false PDP’s claim that Governor Akeredolu was not validly nominated by our party, APC, on the ground that Yobe State Governor, Mai Malla Buni can not serve as the National Chairman of APC at the same time and nominate Akeredolu as Candidate of our Party is false and nothing but a desperate move of its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede to try to snatch the governorship seat by all means through the back door.
“Governor Buni who only implemented the work of the former National Working Committe was not elected as the National Chairman of APC but serving in an acting capacity, after the National Executive Committee, (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, dissolved the National Working Committee, (NWC) of the party and subsequently appointed the Yobe State Governor, Mai Malla Buni as Chairman, Caretaker/Convention Committee.
“Also, the claim that the gubernatorial election was marred with violence in some Local Governments as well as over-voting in other areas was both ridiculous and laughable particularly when the election got a seal of approval by all observers present in election day as being well conducted!
“As earlier stated our Party’s response to PDPs outrageous and frivolous claim shall not be full, but deliberately modest and measured as the case is still subjudice.
“Let it be known however that, the way and manner in which the PDP is approaching its petition at the Tribunal itself is secondary to the optics of the party’s opposition to the election of Governor Akeredolu in a high profile way in the media. It is obviously evident, even to them, that, all their claims are baseless and unfounded!
The whole idea of going to the Tribunal was just to give false hope to their members to remain loyal and committed to a party that is drifting and drowning by the day and almost going to extinction in the state. Their members are planing to jump the ship for a more virile and popular political party which they have found in the APC, hence, the need to quickly do damage control by petitioning Governor Akeredolus victory at the Tribunal and which is now receiving more publicity than expected.
“The issues raised in their petition are not Rocket Science, so a layman can easily understand the differences between appointment of a Party Official in an acting capacity and occupying an elective on a substantive basis.
“One wonders why PDP lawyers are not educating their Party Leadership on these facts! Or could it be that they are the ones refusing to listen to their lawyers? Whichever the case, it is quite shameful and belittling to say the least.
“By Gods Grace, no matter what, the mandate to govern the good people of Ondo State for a second term, duly handed over to Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, on October 10, 2020 by the electorate in Ondo State will not be taken away through the back door by any Party or individual, against the overwhelming wish of the people of Ondo State by His grace.”
