Police arrest man for alleged vote-buying in Owo
Men of the Nigeria Police Force on Saturday rescued a man who was about to be lynched by a mob in the Owo area of Ondo State .
The unidentified man , who claimed to be an election observer at Ward 4, Polling Unit 15, Shagari Market along the Owo -Benin Highway, was accused of approaching voters to sell their votes when he was reportedly attacked .
The Commissioner of Police in charge of Owo and Ose Local Government Areas , Abutu Yaro , told reporters that the man was rescued while his accomplice fled the scene .
Yaro said , “ The man was arrested by the mob and the mob was even trying to lynch him , they had already torn his clothes , you can see him looking tattered already.
“ Then , we ran into them . That was when they stopped the attempt to lynch him .
“ In fact , at the time we picked him , his second , who was in another car, took off .
“ The proactive measure adopted by the members of the public was what saved the situation .
“ They wanted to mob him because he was there for vote -buying purpose and the voters resisted selling their votes. ”
The unidentified man , however , denied the allegation , saying , “ I appreciate the police for rescuing me but the police didn ’ t arrest any other person .
“ I was mobbed because I drew the attention of the police to the people there because they were doing what was not right .
“ I am not a voter, I am not a party agent , I am observing the election , ” he said while refusing to name the organisation he worked for .
Peoples Democratic Party’ s Eyitayo Jegede ; Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress; as well as Zenith Labour Party’ s Agboola Ajayi , are major contenders in today’ s governorship election .
Ondo election: DIG, lawmaker debunk alleged attack on Akeredolu’s wife
The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Ondo State governorship election , Mr Leye Oyebade , has described as untrue the claims in a video that the wife of the state governor , Betty Akeredolu , was attacked and injured at a polling unit in Owo .
The DIG said this in an interview with our correspondent.
He said , “ We have checked and found out that the report is not true. That Owo incident is not true, the area is calm. There is nothing like that . ”
Also , the lawmakers representing Owo Constituency 1 at the Ondo State House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, also debunked the alleged attack on the governor ’ s wife .
He said this in an interview with journalists at Unit 16 Ward 3, Igboroko , Owo .
He lauded the INEC and security agencies for doing an excellent job .
He said , There is no crisis here . I am sure the First Lady will not do anything like that. ”
DIG, lawmaker debunk alleged attack on Akeredolu’s wife
The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Ondo State governorship election , Mr Leye Oyebade , has described as untrue the claims in a video that the wife of the state governor , Betty Akeredolu , was attacked and injured at a polling unit in Owo
He said , “ We have checked and found out that the report is not true. That Owo incident is not true, the area is calm. There is nothing like that . ”
Also , the lawmakers representing Owo Constituency 1 at the Ondo State House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, also debunked the alleged attack on the governor ’ s wife .
He said this in an interview with journalists at Unit 16 Ward 3, Igboroko , Owo
He lauded the INEC and security agencies for doing an excellent job .
He said , There is no crisis here . I am sure the First Lady will not do anything like that. ”
Jegede protests, says INEC creating problem
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Ondo governorship election , Eyitayo Jegede , has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of “ creating a problem” .
He , however , said despite the hitches, he would win.
Before he eventually voted , Smart Card Reader could not read his card and he was asked to step aside for other voters to vote.
Smart Card Reader could not also read PVC of Eno, Jegede ’ s wife but his daughter voted without any hitch .
The machine had worked perfectly until when Jegede and the wife were to cast their votes.
After about 10 minutes , Jegede and his wife voted about 11:10 am , after the machine was rectified.
Speaking to newsmen after voting, Jegede accused INEC of creating a problem, saying the commission should be asked why the card reader stopped functioning when it was his turn to vote .
He said , “ INEC is creating a problem. Their machine stopped working when it was my turn to vote. I had to protest and they said the machine was rectified. But despite all these hitches , there has not been major disruption . But I don’ t know what is happening in remote areas.
“ The turnout has been massive , voters conducted themselves well. I am aware that there is pocket of violence in Ijomu area.
“ I also heard of an incident of vote- buying . ”
PDP candidate Jegede, wife finally cast votes
Smart card reader failed to read Peoples Democratic Party’ s candidate , Eyitayo Jegede ’ s card , on Saturday , and he was asked to step aside for other voters.
Smart Card Reader could not also read the PVC of Eno , Jegede ’ s wife .
The two of them have been asked to step aside for other voters.
The machine had worked perfectly till when Jegede and the wife were to cast their vote .
The PDP candidate and his wife had arrived at Ward 2, Polling Unit 10, Akure South Local Government , around 09:00am .
The technical challenge was , however , resolved by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission present at the polling unit as Jegede and his wife were finally able to their cast votes .
Jegede has Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress; and deputy governor , Agboola Ajayi , of the Zenith Labour Party, as major contenders in the poll.
The PDP candidate , who lost to the incumbent in 2016, said God asked him to challenge Akeredolu again .
Ondo election: Ajayi votes, says security compromised
Ondo State Deputy Governor and Zenith Labour Party governorship candidate , Agboola Ajayi , cast his vote about 10. 32 a. m at Apoi Ward II, Unit 004 in the 2020 Ondo governorship election .
Ajayi , who lauded the impressive turnout at his unit , said , “ Ondo State people are ready to vote freely. In any contest, there must be a winner. They should have allowed the process to be free and fair.
“ You can see the turnout that has been very encouraging here . But I want to also say that the way we have seen it here , the security arrangement is a bit compromised which is not exactly what happened in Edo State .
“ I want to appeal to the security agents to live up to expectation, be neutral , see that every Nigerian’ s vote counts.
“ INEC has put in place so many measures and I want to believe they are not also part of this conspiracy . ”
Boat conveying electoral materials, INEC staff capsizes
A boat carrying some electoral materials to the riverine Ilaje communities of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State has capsized.
The PUNCH gathered that the boat carried some ad -hoc staffs of the Independent National Electoral Commission with some election materials in the Igbokoda area of the local government .
But the source said there were no casualties in the incident as the men of the Nigeria Navy rescued all the victims and the election materials .
When contacted , the Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Mr Tee – Leo Ikoro , confirmed the incident , describing it as “ a minor accident” .
He said , “ It happened but it was a minor mishap because there was no casualty, and nothing happened to the election materials , everything is intact . ”
I don’t know what happens if I lose, but I know what happens when I win ― Akeredolu
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has said that he doesn’t think about what happens if he loses the election, but he is certain there will be rejoicing, singing and dancing when he wins the election.
Responding to questions from journalists after casting his vote, the Ondo State governor said he has total confidence in God for a favourable outcome of the election.
He advised voters to cast their votes, not go too far, monitor their votes and be as peaceful as they can be.
