Barely three days to the Ondo State governorship election, the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised the alarm of Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, importing thugs into the state.
According to the PDP who posted on Party’s verified Twitter said the thugs are masquerading as security officers with fake Police uniforms.
The PDP said the thugs are residing in Mydas Hotel, Owo. Some of them are with Gov. Bello in St Jacob’s Hotel, Alagbaka, Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The Party Tweets:
“Breaking News! Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has imported thugs into Ondo state. The thugs are masquerading as security officers with fake @PoliceNG uniforms.
“They are residing in Mydas Hotel, Owo. Some of them are with Gov. Bello in St Jacob’s Hotel, Alagbaka.”
Newsflash247 had earlier reported the peace accord held at the International Events Centre, Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday, where the candidates of political parties participating in the election have signed a peace accord as part of the efforts to ensure the exercise is violence-free.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Eyitayo Jegede, and the Zenith Labour Party’s candidate and deputy governor of the state, Mr Agboola Ajayi, together with the candidates of other parties signed the accord.
The event was organised by the National Peace Committee in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission and held at the International Events Centre, Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday.
While speaking at the event, the three major candidates said they would abide by the rules of the game during the election by promising that they would not encourage violence irrespective of the outcome of the election.
Addressing the contestants, the chairman of the NPC and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) urged all stakeholders to commit to the spirit of the accord.
He said, “The tension and anxiety associated with election necessitated the setup of the National Peace Committee which is to support peaceful election process and enthrone culture of peace.
“The governorship election in Ondo State is only a few days away and we want peace during and after the election. We want to see Nigeria as a place where people come out peacefully and vote during the election without deprivation and Ondo State deserves this.”
“As you are aware, the election without a peaceful atmosphere, and most importantly disharmony among political parties will hinder developmental efforts. As we go into the election, we have been given assurance by the Independent National Electoral Commission that they will conduct a free, fair and credible election. The rest is left for the voters to do what is right.”
In his remarks, the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, explained that the commission had met 12 of the necessary steps for the smooth conduct of the election.
He asked the political parties and their supporters to maintain peace for the exercise to be peacefully conducted.
