‘We’ll resist rigging’ — Ondo PDP demands credible guber poll

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo has condemned an attack on its members.

On Wednesday, suspected political thugs injured six members of the PDP in Idanre LGA of Ondo.

Adeyemi Fasoranti, PDP director of media and publicity in Ondo, alleged that the assailants were sponsored by the ruling party.

Fasoranti said the attack was due to the PDP’s successful campaign in the LGA on Tuesday.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing on Thursday, Eddy Olafeso, former south-west vice-chairman of the PDP, said the actions of members of the APC are clearly in violation of the peace accord signed by all parties participating in the election.

He said any attempt to compromise a free, fair, credible and transparent election will be lawfully resisted.

“Up till this moment, no arrests have been made and the assailants were given VIP treatment at the APC grand finale rally in which the national chairman of APC Abdullahi Ganduje and Vice-President Kashim Shettima were in attendance,” he said.

“We use this medium to plead with all security agencies to be very professional in discharging their duties. We urge them to remember that a compromised election process is a direct invitation to anarchy.

“We are a peace loving people who abhor violence but will resist attempts to take us for granted.”

Olafeso said no amount of intimidation and threats will save the APC from a crushing defeat on November 16.

He urged PDP supporters not to allow themselves to be provoked.

He said the party has uncovered a sinister plan to manipulate the election.

“At the stakeholders meeting on 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election, held on Thursday, 7th November, 2024 at Akure, Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmoud Yakubu spoke glowingly about the Commission’s readiness to transmit Election results from each Polling Unit,” the statement reads.

“But the news making the round is contrary to the assurance earlier given by Prof. Yakubu.

“For the integrity of INEC, it is necessary that the Commission comes clean on the transmission of election results, which was a sore point in the Edo Election.”