The Action Congress of Nigeria and the Ondo State Government, elected on the platform of the Labour Party, are trading accusations over the purported arrest of the state’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Niran Sule, and the Chairman, Owo Local Government Area, Hon. Tunji Ojomo.
The news of the arrest of Sule and Ojomo, which spread very fast on Saturday morning, was premised on their being in possession of arms and ammunition as the Ondo State gubernatorial election was progressing.
Specifically, they were alleged to have in their possession no fewer than six AK-47 guns.
Though the state government was quick to debunk the story, the ACN, through its spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the duo were arrested in Owo.
Mohammed said they had been transferred to Akure, the state capital, for further interrogation.
Mohammed, in a statement, also alleged that agents of the party in several polling units, including Mr. Kolawole Babawale of Ondo West, Ward 4 Unit 6, are being barred from the polling units because the Independent National Electoral Commission made a mistake by not inserting ‘ACN’ in the agents’ tags it issued to him.
He said Babawale is being threatened with arrest.
The ACN also pointed out the inavailability of election materials in some areas.
It said at Units 13 and 14, Apoi III in Ese Odo Local Government Area, there were no materials as at 9.50am.
The same it said applied to Ugbo Ward I, Ilaje.
The party said Idanre Ward 1, Aladura Polling Unit, a notorious thug known as AJAJA has gone on “rampage and he is perpetrating violence in and around the polling unit and the entire local government.”
Other issues catalogued by the party are:
At Irele ward 7, Units 4, 6, 17 and 18 – No security agents and no form EC60M are available in all the polling units of the ward.
At Ese Odo LG ward 1 Unit 11 – Election materials are yet to be brought and no election officials as at 10.45am.
At Okitipupa LG, Ayeka Ward Unit 6 – INEC personnel are nowhere to be seen.
At Akoko North-east Edo Ward Unit 4 – An LP supporter came with photo copied voters’ card to be accredited.
At Okitipupa LG Ward 2 Unit 6 – ACN members are being denied accreditation by the Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Ogunmade.
At Iramuje Commander Village of Idanre local government – Suspected political thugs working with Gov. Olusegun Mimiko and the Labour Party have attacked and chased away all the electorates in and a guy was also shot by the hoodlums.
At odi olowo in Akure – No voting materials and there are long queues.
The party has also called on the security agencies and INEC to urgently beef up security in Idanre, where suspected Labour Party thugs are reported to have exploited the inadequate security to scare away ACN voters.
Mohammed said from the party’s situation room, he could confirm that the armed thugs were attacking the party’s agents and intimidating its supporters, especially in the rural areas, so that the Labour Party can have a free rein in the area.
The party 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.
”It is the responsibility of INEC and security agencies to ensure that every voter has access to the polling units. This is why we are calling on all concerned to act fast if the election in the area is not be discredited.”
The ACN also alleged insecurity and irregularities as the poll progressed.
Mohammed said inadequate security has been reported in many localities in Ondo State, with the worst-hit areas being Idanre and Okitipupa.
In Idanre, for example, he said thugs on motorcycles are harassing voters and agents of the opposition.
He equally pointed at reports of stuffed ballot boxes being moved to polling booths with the protection of Labour Party thugs.
He added that the widespread insecurity has led to apprehension by voters and there is the need for security agencies to urgently deploy additional security to the affected areas.
Ondo poll: ACN, government bicker over arrest of commissioner, LG boss
October 20, 2012 16 Comments »
so where are the soldiers and several police officers deployed there? and why is INEC supporting tugs, I mean political tugs, the best thing is any party that parades tugs during any election, even if they wins should be out rightly disqualified as a deterrent to others.
Win more money online by clicking on dis link below, it easy n reliable. http://iearn123.com/ref.php?page=act/ref&invcod=42133
Why must u kill ur fellow human being before u enter seat. Remember, its against the law of God. Any evil u comit on this earth you must give an account on the last day. If u kill to become a governor u can never be a good leader. Ur tenure will be kill,kill,kill,kill. till the end.
When the real Political Parties driven by the people and dominated by issues emerge, thugerry, impersonation,and other electoral vices will be a thing of the past.
From what I’ve read here, this can not in anyway be compared to July 14 election in Edo State. I think other states should learn from that of Edo State.
Good work Lai mohamed. Keep it up.
Thats why we lack God sent leaders, God annoited servant now we have rulers in place of leaders. God help us.
OOOH UNTIL THE DAY THE POWER OF LOVE OVER COMES THE LOVE OF POWER THEN THE WORLD WILL KNOW PEACE,…THE SPIRIT OF THOSE IGBO’S KILLED DURING CIVIL WAR WILL NEVER LET NIGERIA HAVE PEACE, APPEASE THEM NIGERIA, GIVE THEM BEFITTING BURIAL, GOWON SAID HE HAS NO REGRET TO FIGHT CIVIL WAR, LET SEE GOD MUST FIGHT FOR IGBO’S WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NIGERIA TILL NOW AT 52 YEARS THEY SAID IGBOS WILL NOT RULE THEN, WHAT IS THE STATE OF NIGERIA? IS NIGERIA GOOD? IS NIGERIA WORTH TO BE COUNTRY, STILL AT 52 YEARS NIGERIA ACHIEVE NOTHING, NO LIGHT NO ROAD BUT STILL THE WEST AND NORTH SAID THEY WANT TO RULE, BUT WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT GOOD THING ALWAYS COMES FROM NAZARETH, WISE MEN COMES FROM EAST, GIVE IGBO’S PRESIDENCY AND SEE IF NIGERIA WILL NOT BE A PARADISE ON EARTH, THROUGH IGBO MAN NIGERIA GO INDEPENDENCE SO THROUGH IGBO MAN THE COUNTRY WILL BE NICE AND WONDERFUL BELIEVE IT OR NOT, GOOD THING CAN COME FROM NAZARETH, WHERE PEOPLE NEGLECT OR ABANDON WILL BE THE WAY, REMEMBER THE REJECTED STONE WAS LATER BECOME THE CHIEF CORNER STONE QED
If you want to eat with the devil,you must be strong(ur spoon must be long) Tinubu & ACN are using thugs so as to win at all cost. Labour is using thugs to protect peoples vote.
Become Netcontacts member & be paid N1,500 4 each person U invite 2 register as a member
visit
http://www.netcontacts.com.ng/invitation/?invitationcode=306236085 and be paid daily
i urged you today to come out of your financial stress to embrace millions within a month.
I think dis report is one sided. Wats d version of pdp n labour party in dis matter? Or are just covering only 4 ACN?
Kudos 2 u williams, wat are other parties saying? ACN want 2 take over Ondo by all means, wen did lai become d spokeman of ondo people?
ACN is party of whiners. They are masters of election rigging,thugry,propaganda,judicial manipulation but they will be so quick to accuse others. Liar mohamed should shutup because we know their tricks.
The do and die politicians are not civil and unrepentant and they will not perform if elected into office. The ondo electorates should gestined such politicians.
The pdp and labour party have not spoken on the conduct. who knows whether ACN are manupulators and election riggers.
politics is jus a game by difference interest but in our country is jus abt using thugs 2 get to power. d report of acn r campaingn after election. why don’t the supporter or d party agent alert d security personnel deploy 2 d state or beta still alert inec official in d state ad abj during d election