AD alleges intimidation, monetisation of Ondo Poll

The Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Ondo State on Saturday alleged that both the APC All Peoples Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made good their threats to rig and win this election at all cost by embarking spate of intimidation, heavy monetisation and outright manipulation of the ballot materials in the on-going election in Ondo State.

The spokesperson of the Olusola Oke campaign Organization, Bisi Kolawole in a release disclosed that it was unfortunate that the APC, whose mantra of a complete change to a corruption free Nigeria was now the very apostle of corruption, intimidation and outright manipulation of votes by heavily monetizing the voting processes in the election.

His words: “They have threatened to win this election at all cost and today, they have demonstrated their willingly to make their prediction come true. Our leaders were brutalised and hounded out of their homes in order to scare them and their supporters from the polling booths, they have brought in loads and loads of money to buy votes due to the pangs of hunger which they brought unto the people.

“Yet, they say they are fighting corruption. Again, the PDP too have been attacking us including our Candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, they are now buying votes in the full glare of all shamelessly to continue pillaging the State.

“From all over the State reports have it that cases of electoral manipulations are on-going, the PVC cards readers are not functioning properly and appears to have been compromised as they show figures different what are usually recorded in the accreditation exercise.

” In Kiribi town Ese Odo local government, the hometown of the APC Deputy governor candidate, Mr Agboola Ajayi, leaders and members of the AD were chased out of their home to prevent them from voting and scaring their supporters away. Indeed, a former caretaker Chairman of the local government and also native of Kiribo, Mr Akin Sowore narrowly escaped being arrested by armed men in police and army uniforms who stormed his home in the community at exactly 1;30 am and up till the end of the election, these security men were harassing the electorate and chasing them from the polling units

“In Supare, in Akoko South West local government which is the hometown of Victor Olabintan, the Director General of the Rotimi Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, thugs loyal to him prevented members and supporters of the AD and other parties from voting in Unit 6, Ward 10, where he usually votes. They completely surrounded the polling booth ensuring that nobody voted for another party save APC aside chasing away all known AD members.

“In Akure, specifically Ward 5, Units 17&18 situated inside the Alagbaka Primary School, the Special Assistant to Governor Mimiko, Taye Afilaka, was initially arrested by the police and taken away for electoral infractions only to resurface about two hours later with money which they started sharing out in the full glare of security agents to anybody willing to vote for the PDP. In Unit 23, Ward 10, Akure South local government area, the State Chairman of the Okada riders association, one Ojo Obabi led his thugs in thump-printing ballot papers with the aim of swapping them with those from the polling units later.”

The AD, while commending the resolve of the people to vote for it candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, urged them to remain calm and not to be intimidated by those which it described as men of straws saying that in the end, the will of the people would prevail.