…I have done my best for Ondo people, says Akeredolu
Ibe Pascal Arogorn
Contrary to apprehensions of the past few days, Akure, the capital of Ondo appears calm and quiet as the people of the State are getting set to go to the polls to either renew the mandate of their sitting governor or choose another person that will lead them for the next four years.
The Ondo State Government had on Thursday declared Friday a work- free day to enable workers, especially civil servants, get ready for the performance of their civic responsibility.
Nevertheless, economic activities were in full bloom in the capital city as residents go about their normal activities. But all the hotels have been fully booked since Thursday evening, with security operatives, observer groups, media personnel, politicians and staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as the guests.
About 1,478,460 are on the register to vote in the election which will hold across 203 electoral wards and across 18 local government councils of the state.
Though there will be 17 party logos on the ballot, the three major candidates who are expected to earn most of the votes are Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who is seeking re-election, Eyitayo Jegede(Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi(Zenith Labour Party)..
There are also fears that politicians may have imported hundreds of politicians into the capital city. And there are fears that the clashes among political thugs which characterised the campaign may repeat itself during the election, thus leading to the disenfranchisement of many.
Tight Security
However, to demonstrate their capacities to rein in any untoward activity, well kitted security operatives made up of soldiers, the police and officers of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, paraded the city in what is described as ‘show of force’ on Friday afternoon.
The police had earlier indicated that it will deploy 30,933 conventional police personnel and 2,850 special agents for the election. The police deployment would be complemented by an additional 3,500 manpower to be drawn from other security agencies while the military will be engaged for the purpose of securing the state’s borders.
In addition, the Nigeria Police Air Wing will provide air surveillance, according to Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police who announced the measures.
He said added that security deployment was intended to protect the personnel and assets of the INEC, the electorate and residents of Ondo State in general before, during and after the election.
Adamu said that the rationale for the deployment was drawn from the experience garnered at the recently-concluded governorship election in Edo State and proactive response to the outcome of intelligence analyses gathered on Ondo State’s governorship elections.
On Friday, the Inspector-General of Police had also ordered the restriction of vehicular movement from 11:59 pm on Friday to 6 pm on Saturday, in Ondo State.
In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, on Friday, the order is part of efforts by the Force to ensure effective coordination of public order and safety during the gubernatorial election.
“The IGP reiterates that the vehicular restriction order, among other things, is aimed at preventing political actors and trouble-makers from freely engaging in unpatriotic acts – circulation and use of illicit arms and hard drugs, movement of political thugs from contiguous States to Ondo State and disruption of the electoral processes, etc – which are inimical to the dictates of the electoral laws,” Mba said in the statement.
INEC Commitment To Free, Fair Election
INEC was fine-tuning its preparations for the election with the movement of electoral materials on Friday. But speaking on Monday in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu told members of staff of the Commission to consolidate on the INEC’s recent achievement Edo by ensuring that every single vote cast in the election is accounted for.
Yakubu said, “We must consolidate on our recent achievement and account for every single vote cast on Oct. 10, in a transparent manner which will ensure that only the choice of the electorate prevails.” “I implore all of you to resist any form of temptation and let your individual actions be guided by the extant laws and good conscience.
Fears/Apprehensions
In spite of these promises, civil society organisations that have been on ground in Ondo State for the past two weeks have been expressing different apprehensions about INEC preparations and other issues that may affect the credibility of the election.
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), for example, urged INEC to ensure that voting materials arrive at the polling units on time, taking into consideration the not too favourable terrain of some parts of the State.
CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, said this should also be considered in terms of collation of results. “These factors will have to be considered in the aspect of reverse logistics, especially with respect to collation of results. INEC should, therefore, consider the nature of the terrain in some parts of the state, especially the riverine and mountainous nature of some Local Government Areas.”
The group also urged the Commission to find ways to mitigate the effect of the largely partisan disposition of transport unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Motorcyclists’ Association.
According to Hassan, the partisan posture of the unions could pose challenges which might create credibility and logistics problems for the entire process.
INEC’s reliance on The NURTW for transportation of electoral materials, CDD said this might create a problem for INEC in the area of getting materials to all voting areas in the state.
The Centre therefore advised INEC to “prepare back up plans just in case there is a system failure in its logistics deployment as a result of the partisan disposition of the transport union.”
Speaking in the same vein, YIAGA Africa, a Civil Society Organisation, also asked INEC to ensure that the contractual agreement with the NURTW for movement of election materials for the Ondo governorship poll was not compromised.
Co-chair of YIAGA Africa, Dr Aisha Abdullahi, at a press conference in Akure, noted that INEC should ensure all vehicles to be used in deploying election materials and personnel were deployed to the Registration Area camps 24 hours before the commencement of polls.
Abdullahi, aid the fact that some leaders of NURTW have been reported to have endorsed some of the candidates standing for the Saturday election raises doubt about their neutrality.
“Although INEC has shown readiness to deploy its officials and materials early to the polling units, Yiaga Africa is concerned with the commission’s reliance on members of the NURTW to transport election materials and personnel to the polling unit.
“Yiaga Africa fears that partisan and compromised NURTW members will deliberately cause delays in the commencement of polls in some battleground LGAs by either refusing to deploy or give reasons to delay the process ,” she said.
In addition, YIAGA Africa also asked INEC and security agencies to devote special attention to notorious blind spots in riverine communities of Ilaje and Ese-Odo local governments known for election rigging, and perennial logistics challenges posed by activities of militants in the region
YIAGA urged INEC to collaborate with the security agencies, especially the police to arrest and prosecute any NURTW member who violated the contractual agreement between INEC and NURTW or make any attempt to undermine the election.
“To ensure early commencement of polls in those areas, INEC should ensure adequate logistics preparations, coupled with heightened security deployment to protect the materials and officials.
“It is important for the commission to increase its oversight in those areas to ensure consistency in the application of election guidelines.
“This is consistent with the call made by Yiaga Africa in its 2016 Ondo observation findings and 2019 Bayelsa governorship election on the conduct of election in riverine communities.
“INEC should ensure the early payment of the allowance of adhoc officials for the election.
“All Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) must be tasked to ensure payments are processed a night before the election,” Abdullahi said.
Governors As Invaders
On its own part, the Transition Monitoring Group which is a coalition of over 400 civil society organisations warned that relocation of some governors to Ondo State to support candidates of their parties constitute a threat to the peaceful and credible conduct of the election.
Briefing journalists on Friday, the Chairman, Transition Monitoring Group, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said the governors could use their immunity to get involved in malpractices like vote-buying, intimidation and could also sponsor political violence.
She said, “TMG condemns the practice of governors from other states that have invaded Ondo State and refused to leave after campaign has ended.
These governors who travelled and sponsored their political expedition with the meagre resources of their states may constitute a threat to free and fair election by taking advantage of their immunity to be involved in election malpractices like vote-buying, intimidation of security operatives and sponsorship of political violence. All invading governors should leave since campaign has ended.”
However, the hope is that like it happened in the Edo governorship election about three weeks ago, the apprehensions and fears will come to naught tomorrow (today).
I have done my best for Ondo people, says Akeredolu
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo said he had done his best for the people and had left the rest to God and the people of the state who will go the polls on Saturday to elect a governor for the next four years.
The Governor, who is seeking a second term in Saturday’s election said this in a statement signed by the Director-General of his campaign council, Mr Victor Olabimtan, on Friday in Akure, the state capital.
The Governor also urged the people of the state to be peaceful and orderly as they go to vote in their various areas on Saturday.
He appealed to the people to conduct themselves in a responsible manner to prove all who had predicted violence-marred polls wrong.
“Good people of Ondo State, I thank you for your support thus far,” he said as he remarked that his campaign activity had officially come to an end.”
Cleric urges Muslim supporters to shun violence
Ahead of October 10 Governorship election in Ondo State, Muslim supporters have been urged to shun violence during, and after the election.
Chief Imam of Akure, Shiekh Abdul Hakeem Akorede made the call during Jumat Service in Akure, Ondo State capital on Friday.
Akorede urged the electorate to conduct themselves properly at polling units, cast their votes for their preferred candidates, and allow the election umpire to give detailed results of the electoral process.
He also urged politicians and their supporters to show decorum and abide by all the rules of INEC during the election.
He advised the electorate to desist from any act that could truncate the electioneering process, saying that INEC and security agencies should do their jobs without fear of favour.
After a careful examination and sifting of the candidates of the 17 political parties contesting the poll, opinions narrow the chances to three candidates, namely, the incumbent Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the APC; his erstwhile deputy, Agboola Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party; and Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP.
Police monitoring vote buyers, says DIG Oyebade
The Nigerian Police Force has concluded arrangements to track vote buyers, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Oyeleye Oyebade said on Friday in an interview.
Oyebade who heads the Police Research and Training Unit at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, is leading police operations for the Ondo poll.
He said his men are already mopping up suspected flashpoints and will keep their eyes wide open in search of vote buyers.
He gave an assurance to the people that the police would provide adequate security during and after the Governorship election in the State.
He explained that more than 35,000 security personnel drawn from the Police, Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC are in the state.
The personnel are drawn from mobile units, anti bomb, counter terrorism and other special units. of the security agencies.
Oyebade said his men will deploy technology to ease their operations during and after the poll.
He also said some of his men will be in mufti and stationed at polling units and other strategic places for intelligence gathering.
He also reiterated the restriction on movement of persons and vehicles during the poll.
The restriction starts at 12 midnight on Friday to 6.00 pm on Saturday.
Sixteen other candidates from different parties are contesting against incumbent Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress, APC who is seeking reelection in the Saturday 10 October poll.
More than 1.4 million registered voters in 18 Local Government Areas of the state are expected to take part in the election being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Less Than 24hrs to Ondo Poll, APC Chieftain Asks Court to Disqualify Akeredolu
With barely 24 hours (yesterday) to the conduct of the gubernatorial election in Ondo State, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Kalu Kalu, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja, to restrain the APC and its governorship candidate, Mr Olurotimi Akeredolu, from participating in the poll.
Outside Akeredolu, two others the plaintiff also wants to be prevented from the upcoming elections in the country are the APC’s candidates; Mr Abiru Tokunbo and Mr Frank Ibezim contesting for Lagos East and Imo North Senatorial Districts respectively.
The aggrieved chieftain is seeking the exclusion of APC candidates from further elections pending the determination of the suit challenging the dissolution of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party on June 25 this year.
His grouse is that the APC is presently being administered by a caretaker committee, rather than the elected NWC.
Respondents in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/736/2020 and filed on October 9, 2020 are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, Chairman of APC Caretaker Committee and Governor of Yobe State Mai Mala Buni.
Others are members of the Caretaker Committee which include; Isiaka Oyebola, Ken Nnamani, Stella Okorete, Governor Sani Bello, Dr James Lalu, Senator Abubakar Yusuf, Hon. Akinyemi Olaide, David Leon, Professor Tahir Mamman, Ismail Ahmed and Senator Akpan Udoedehe as 1st to 14th respondents respectively.
The plaintiff in the suit filed on his behalf by his lawyer, Mr Ukpai Ukairo, is claiming that nomination of candidates for an election by law ought to be by no other person than the Chairman and Secretary of the party.
He specifically accused INEC of “accepting, notifications and letters from the 3rd to 14th respondents and in that process qualifying persons as candidates in election being conducted by it when the names of such candidates were not submitted by the National Chairman or/ and Secretary of the APC”.
In a 53 paragraph affidavit deposed to in support of the suit, the plaintiff averred that, “there is no lawful provision for a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of a political party at all including the 2nd defendant”.
He also averred that INEC did not receive any notice of primary election for the selection of APC’s candidates in the governorship election in Ondo as well as the Senatorial by elections in Lagos and Imo States duly “signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the 2nd defendant/respondent”.
The plaintiff, who is a Youth Leader of the APC in Abia, argued that as at the time the caretaker committee was inaugurated by the NEC, the NWC had barely spent two years from their four years in office.
He added that since the constitution of the committee INEC had been interfacing with them as national officers of the APC adding that the electoral umpire received names submitted by the committee for the governorship poll in Ondo and the forthcoming senatorial election in Lagos and Imo.
While claiming that it is his civic responsibility to respect and uphold the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and any Act of the National Assembly, the plaintiff said he did not want the APC to “lose its status as a political party due to non registration of its national officers with INEC”.
Further claiming the illegality of the caretaker committee, Kalu stated that Article 17(iv) of the APC’s Constitution provides that no officer in any organ of the party shall hold executive office in government, adding that while the chairman of the committee is a serving governor, the committee itself is made up of people who were not elected.
He therefore prayed the court for an order of Interlocutory Injunction pending the determination of the substantive suit restraining INEC from acting on any document submitted by the APC in relation to any election it is conducting, “in so far as such documents is under the hands and signatures of the caretaker committee or any of them directed at qualifying any person howsoever as a candidate for the purpose of any such election which by law ought to and is being conducted by INEC”.
He further prayed the court for another order restraining INEC from placing the APC in the ballot for any Election it is conducting, “or where already placed from ascribing any vote to the APC in so far as the names and particulars of any such candidate was submitted to INEC by or under the hands and signatures of the 3rd to 14th respondents”.
He also prayed the court to restrain INEC from ascribing any vote to Akeredolu, Tokunbo and Ibezim in the governorship and Senatorial elections respectively.
Kalu also filed an affidavit of urgency praying the court to give expeditious hearing in the suit because the six months tenure of the committee to conduct a national convention for the election of the NWC would soon come to an end.
