• I’m still in the race , says YPP Candidate
As the Ondo State governorship election draws closer, a heated exchange has erupted between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), with each party accusing the other of attempting to undermine the electoral process.
The PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, alleged that APC leaders in Ondo State are planning to compromise the election by placing party loyalists as election officials.
Peretei claimed that the APC had “submitted a list of two party members per polling unit to INEC to serve as Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers,” despite these individuals not undergoing the required training.
In a statement, Peretei said, “The Peoples Democratic Party Ondo State Chapter wishes to alert the public that the APC is banking on compromising the election at all costs, having failed tragically to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.”
He further added, “The entire world is watching, and this move by the party’s State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, has vindicated our consistent call for the redeployment of Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner.”
The PDP urged all stakeholders to maintain fairness, warning that “nobody can hide behind one finger.”
In a related allegation, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, Director-General of the Agboola Ajayi Campaign Council, accused the APC of importing thugs from nearby states to disrupt the voting process in specific areas.
“APC is preparing to bring thugs to Ondo State to fight the opposition,” Olafeso stated, claiming that thugs were being mobilized from Ekiti, Kogi, and Edo.
APC Dismisses Accusations, Affirms Commitment to Electoral Integrity
In response, APC Publicity Secretary Alex Kalejaye dismissed the PDP’s allegations as baseless. “It is not true. We have no reason to contemplate compromising the election. We have worked very hard; we have worked for the people,” Kalejaye remarked.
He emphasized that the APC has campaigned extensively across all 18 local government areas in Ondo and that the party has gained significant support.
“We have appealed to the people, and they have shown understanding and a willingness to support the party. Therefore, we have no reason to even consider compromising the election,” he said, dismissing the allegations as “fabrications from the PDP.”
Addressing claims that the APC had arranged with INEC to use pre-selected party members as ad-hoc staff, Kalejaye reiterated, “There is absolutely no reason to do that. Our strategy is to campaign. We will not go to the extent of doing anything unconstitutional just to win an election. We are confident that the people are with us.”
YPP Candidate Denies Withdrawal, Assures Ondo Residents of Alternative
Meanwhile, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate, John Otitoloju Akinmurele, rejected rumors that he was stepping down from the race, asserting his confidence in the party’s support base across the state. Speaking in Akure, Akinmurele affirmed, “We are not stepping down from the race. The YPP is strongly in the race to win.”
Akinmurele expressed his belief that the people of Ondo State are ready to vote based on individual merit rather than party loyalty. “We moved around the streets, but if the APC goes to the streets like we did, people will stone them,” he commented.
Highlighting his vision for Ondo, Akinmurele promised to address pressing issues, such as the lack of functional traffic lights in Akure, the state capital. “No traffic light is working in Akure, but the YPP will make Akure a capital city in pride. We will deploy technology to sectors of the economy, especially agriculture. Ondo residents have no excuse to lack what to eat. Things are so bad in Ondo right now,” he added.
As Ondo heads to the polls, citizens remain watchful amid allegations and counter-allegations, with heightened expectations for a fair and transparent electoral process.
