Promises by the security
agencies to keep the peace
during yesterday’s
governorship election in Ondo
State failed to materialise in
many parts of the state just
when it mattered most.
Violence erupted in Idanre,
Igbotako, Ilu-Titun, Okitipupa,
Ido-Ani and Ifon to mar an
election the authorities had
touted as a model for future
polls in the country.
It was so bad at Okeluse that
the result for the area had to
be cancelled.
Thugs believed to be working
for the Labour Party (LP) went
wild in those towns and the
riverine areas hijacking ballot
boxes and harassing
supporters of the Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and
People Democratic Party (PDP).
Two key actors –Mr.Niran Sule,
the Commissioner for Special
Duties and Mr. Tunde Ojomo,
chairman of the Owo Local
Government-were arrested by
security agents for being in
possession of six AK 47 rifles.
They were taken to Akure for
interrogation.
Anxiety filled the air last night
in Ondo State as residents and
stakeholders awaited the result
of the election.
Tension was particularly high at
the Alagbaka, Akure secretariat
of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC)
and the campaign offices of
the three leading candidates in
the poll-Mr. Oluwarotimi
Akeredolu of the ACN, Dr.
Olusegun Mimiko of LP and Mr.
Olusola Oke of PDP, as results
began streaming in from the
wards and local government
areas.
Yet to be confirmed reports
showed that the ACN led in the
North Senatorial District
followed by LP and PDP, while LP
led in the Central District with
ACN second and PDP in the
third position.
PDP however, led in the South
Senatorial District with ACN
coming second and LP a
distant third.
All together ACN has
reportedly won eight out of
the 18 local government areas
in the state–four in the north,
two in central and two in the
south. PDP on the other hand
won five and LP five too.
Although, the Central District
has the largest number of
votes, whatever edge the LP
had there may not stand in
view of its poor showing in the
North and South.
This holds out the possibility of
the election being resolved
through run-off polls.
Turn out for the election was
generally high across the state
although electoral materials
got to many polling units late.
Despite assurances by the
security agencies, thugs were
unleashed by desperate
politicians in many places to
intimidate or scare away
voters.
Fifteen youths had earlier been
arrested on Thursday at the
Akure house of a chieftain of
Afenifere for allegedly stuffing
ballot boxes with thumb-printed
ballot papers in favour of the
Labour party.
Six chieftains of the party in
Ese-Odo Local Government
area went under-ground on
Friday after reports of their
own thumb-printing leaked.
As voting got underway
yesterday, suspected thugs of
Labour Party were said to
have exploited the inadequate
security to scare away ACN
voters.
In fact, Sunmonu Famoritiye, a
chieftain of the ACN was said
to have been arrested on the
orders of Mimiko. As of the
time of filing this report his
whereabouts was unknown.
National Publicity Secretary of
the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
said the armed thugs attacked
his party’s agents and
intimidated its supporters,
especially in the rural areas.
He said: ‘’If those saddled with
the responsibility of providing
adequate security are unable
to do so, and many voters are
disenfranchised because of
that, then the election in the
area cannot be adjudged free
and fair. If thugs acting in
support of the Labour Party
are given a free rein and
agents and voters of the ACN
are scared away from the
polling units, the election in the
area cannot be adjudged to be
credible, on the grounds of
technical exclusion.”
He also said ACN agents in
several polling units were
barred from the polling units
because “INEC allegedly made a
mistake by not inserting ‘ACN’
in the agents’ tags it issued to
them.”
Alhaji Mohammed also alleged
inadequate security especially
in Idanre and Okitipupa where
thugs on motorcycles had a
field day “harassing voters and
agents of the opposition. There
are also reports of stuffed
ballot boxes being moved to
polling booths with the
protection of Labour Party
thugs”.
Security was relatively tight
and the election was generally
peaceful.
Accreditation and voting began
as scheduled in some parts of
the state.
As early as 6am, armed
soldiers, anti-riot policemen
and other security operatives
had commenced patrolling
major roads.
Vehicle movement across the
state was not allowed
Intra city movement was also
restricted as only vehicles on
election duty, including those
conveying journalists, were
allowed to operate.
Even then such vehicles and
the occupants were searched .
In some polling units, security
agents were seen scanning
voters before being let in.
Police officers and DSS agents
were seen on guard in polling
units.
In Unit 10, Ward V, Afulu in Oka
Akoko where Senator Ajayi
Boroffice registered, two
regular policewomen were on
ground.
Speaking to journalists,
Borroffice, who was one of the
governorship aspirants on the
platform of the Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN),
complained about inadequate
security personnel in his unit.
He expressed fears that some
people had threatened to
disrupt voting there.
However, he said soldiers who
mounted guard about 500
meters away gave assurance
that they would respond when
called upon.
Voters trooped out eagerly in
Akure North local government
area.
Accreditation and voting went
well at Itaogbolu, Iju, Oba Ile,
Igbatoro, Eleyowo-Bolorunduro
and Ayede-Ogbese.
However, a traditional ruler in
the area reportedly threatened
the people to vote for Labour
Party or be dealt with.
The election was also peaceful
in Ondo North Senatorial
District.
Many voters got to the polling
stations as early as 6.30am.
Accreditation began in some
units promptly by 8am. In
others, it began at about 9am.
In Unit 8, Ward 6, Ayegunle,
Oka-Akoko, Akungba, voters
were being accredited by 8am.
At Unit O4, in Ward II, the
Presiding Officer was calling
out names of registered
voters as at 9am for
accreditation.
Old women, elderly men and
youths gathered at the unit on
Victory College, by Jubilee
Market, Ugbe-Abuja Road.
Accreditation was peaceful in
the unit, but a Supervisory
Presiding Officer (SPO) Oladele
Adebisi, who was monitoring
activities in Akoko North East,
said some of the Presiding
Officers did not turn up.
He said he was trying to send
more officers to units where
there is a higher number of
voters.
“The people are complying, and
we’re working hard to meet up
with time and finish with
accreditation on schedule.
“The only challenge we have is
a shortage of hands in some
units. So right now I am looking
for more hands for units
where there are more people.
“There is supposed to be an
Assistant Poling Officer (APO),
APO I and APO II in each unit.
But the people we would have
used are not available,” he said.
At Unit 05, Ward 1, CAC Primary
School, the Ofua of Ikareland,
High Chief Alfred Omotola,
described the turnout of
voters as impressive.
He said: “We are peace-loving
people. We are orderly here.
There is no problem at all.”

LIES!LIES!LIES!These people are never tired lying shamelessly.In their dreams Aketi is leading,I would want to see the Nation's publication of the result when it's officially announced.

Who get the nation No be ACN Wetin u expect

@ops lies all lies Why is it that whenever acn looses they will call it fraud

That is ACN way of tackling issues. When they won, they will say it is free and fair but when they are defeated, they will cry foul. Yeye party with yeye people

ACN is worse than PDP.

Tinunbu needs to be put in his place. All this gra gra is his quest to become Godfather of the whole SW.

At this rate, they would single handedly soil their good works in 1 fell swoop.

His obsession to have every SW governor tied to his apron strings smacks of desperation and an underlying agenda. He's beginning to look like a PEST!

hahahahahahaha!

You can see the confirmation of the fact all the parties are mere associations of convenience.

CPC, PDP, ACN, APGA, LP, ANPP, etc are all the same! No ideologies, only fraternities selfish men with deadly ambitions.

See ACN playing the "victim". Funny enough, they even included the PDP as a partner in "victimised" by LP.

As for the Nation,
Tinubu = ACN
Tinubu = The Nation.

Therefore, The Nation = ACN.