No fewer than 11 political parties have merged and collapsed their structures to support the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede ahead of Oct. 10, governorship elections.
Speaking with newsmen on Monday in Akure, the Chairmen of the political parties, who spoke through the State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr Oladele Ogunbameru, said the decision was taken in the common interest of the state.
Ogunbameru noted that the adoption of Jegede was a clear indication that the PDP would record the victory.
“We have invited you today, Oct. 5, 2020, to intimate you of the outcome of a series of meetings of 10 out of the 17 political parties participating in the Ondo 2020 governorship elections.
“We have resolved to back the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), for the polls at the meeting held on Sunday, Oct. 4, in Akure with the party leaders and top echelon of the PDP in attendance.
“We are committed to good governance in Ondo State which we believe can only be offered by the PDP at this present austere time.
“There is no gainsaying that the present political leadership in Ondo State can be best described as nothing but anathema in the face of things.
“This collaboration is an organised effort to save Ondo State from the political quagmire and the undesirable socio-economic predicament of our people.
“The undersigned political party leaders, therefore, resolved to work as a team in tandem with the PDP’s well-captured manifesto for the welfare, well being and life more abundant for the good people of Ondo State,” Ogunbameru said.
The State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Fatai Adams, said the party was happy that the popularity of Eyitayo Jegede was attracting massive endorsement from key stakeholders.
The political parties’ chairmen who supported the PDP candidate include Mr Ajibola Falayi of Accord Party; Olasunkanmi Obafemi (AA); Sule Odeade (ADP); Isreal Ayeni (AAC); Niran Toye (APGA).
Others are Felix Oloro (APM), Adesanya Olaoluwa (APP); Peter Olagokun (NNPP); Funmilayo Jenyo (NRM); and Oladele Ogunbameru (SDP).
Ondo election ‘ll be violence-free – IGP, INEC
The Inspector -General of Police, Mr Abubakar Adamu , has declared that the police would be battle -ready for the Saturday governorship election in Ondo State .
Similarly , the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu , said the commission was ready to conduct free , fair, and credible election , promising that the success recorded in the just -concluded governorship poll would be repeated in Ondo State .
Both the INEC and police chiefs spoke at the INEC’ s stakeholders meeting held in Akure , the Ondo State capital on Monday , ahead of the forthcoming election .
The IGP said the police had identified some flashpoints in the state and necessary action had been taken strategically to handle the situation and maintain law and order in those areas.
He specifically disclosed that 16 flashpoints were identified in the state.
The police boss said , “ In ensuring the credibility of the process , we have undertaken security threat assessment and all the flashpoints and actors engaged in, or planning to threaten the electoral process in Ondo State have been identified and strategies have been emplaced to frustrate their criminal , unpatriotic and undemocratic intentions.
“ In order to mitigate the identified threats , we shall be deploying, aside from our intelligence assets, a total of 33, 783 police personnel on election security duty in Ondo State . This will comprise 30, 933 conventional police personnel and 2, 850 Special Police Units . The police deployment will be complemented by an additional 3, 500 manpower that will be drawn from other security agencies. The military will be engaged for the purpose 0f securing the inter -state borders while the Nigeria Police Airwing will provide air surveillance . ”
The INEC chairman , who insisted that the preparation for the election was at the peak, also expressed assurance that the Ondo election would be an improvement of the last election in Edo State .
He reiterated that all the candidates of the election and the representative of their political parties would sign peace accord on Tuesday, as part of the efforts to ensure a violence-free poll on Saturday .
Yakubu said , “ Our commitment is to ensure that the choice of who becomes the next governor of Ondo State is entirely in the hands of the voters. I wish to assure all eligible voters that every vote will count and only the choice made by the people of Ondo State will determine the outcome of the election .
“ I want to assure political parties and candidates that we will remain focused on our processes and procedures .
Let me reiterate to all stakeholders that the Commission will not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate. ”
Ondo govt, ZLP disagree on alleged plot to attack Ajayi in Akeredolu’s hometown
ONDO State government and the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Monday disagreed on the alleged planned attack on its governorship candidate of ZLP, Hon Agboola Ajayi in Owo, the hometown of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Ajayi had alleged that he suspended his electioneering campaign to Owo because of a planned attack by suspected thugs sponsored by governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
But the information and Orientation commissioner Donald Ojogo at a press conference in Akure alleged that Ajayi planned to stage an attack on himself in Governor Akeredolu hometown and in turn blame the state government.
Ojogo said the plot was quickly abolished and the campaign to Owo cancelled after relevant agencies were informed.
He said:
“information at the disposal of the Ondo State Government is to the effect that the Governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Mr Agboola Ajayi, has hatched a plot to organise an attack on his convoy.
“The incident is planned for Tuesday and targeted to have been carried out by supporters of a political party as he visits Owo as part of his campaign tour.
“The Ondo State Government has implicit confidence in the capacity of the security agencies to unravel the circumstances leading to skirmishes in the last three weeks.
“We are, however, persuaded to believe that most of such attacks are organised by ‘the loud victims’ to demonise the government and paint a savoury atmosphere of insecurity as we approach the October 10 election.
“ln the case of today’s planned imaginary theatre of violence, Ajayi, characteristically, desires not the seat of Governor.
The motive is to create a crisis and play the ignoble role of an underdog and victim in order to attract public sympathy. No lie has an endless speed.
“The State Government wishes to reiterate its sustained call on the security agencies to heighten their surveillance and stem every untoward move in the direction of a peaceful election.
Providing adequate security for Ajayi as he tours Owo today, can only be a potent effort to forestall a dangerous slide into perfidy.
On its part, the Ajayi campaign organisation in a statement issued by its Director-General, Dr Kola Ademujimi said that the suspension of the rally “becomes necessary because intelligent reports revealed that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, has perfected plots to lay siege of attacks on the supporters and members of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) who want to attend the rally.
Ademujimi said
“in fact, the Owo woman leader and many of our supporters had been physically attacked since yesterday and their properties destroyed.
“Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his party have become so hostile since they’re aware of the imminent defeat staring at them at the October 10 governorship election.
“The Deputy Governor and governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP), Agboola Ajayi has always said and wishes to reiterate that his aspiration to provide purposeful leadership for Ondo State doesn’t worth the blood of any citizen of the State.
“The Zenith Labour Party,(ZLP), has conducted a clinical campaign across seventeen (17) local government areas in the state without any blemish.
“We, therefore, urge our teeming supporters in Owo Local Government Area to continue with the house to house campaign and mobilisation.
He said that the party “regrets any inconvenience this sudden change must have caused.
