State governor’s “invasion” of Ondo ahead of Saturday’s poll is a threat to credible poll — TMG

By DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

The Transition Monitoring Group which is a coalition of over 400 civil society organisations has condemned the ‘invasion’ of Ondo state by some state governors ahead of the Saturday governorship election.

Its chairman, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said in Akure at a pre-election press briefing that the “refusal of these governors to leave the state constituted a threat to the peaceful and credible conduct of the election.

Vanguard findings showed that present and former state governors from the two major political parties, the All Progressive Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party have arrived in the state since Wednesday. According to her these state governors “could use their immunity to get involved in malpractices like vote-buying, intimidation and could also sponsor political violence.

Akiyode-Afolabi said, “TMG condemns the practice of governors from other states that have invaded Ondo State and refused to leave after the campaign has ended.

“These governors who travelled and sponsored their political expedition with the meagre resources of their states may constitute a threat to free and fair election by taking advantage of their immunity to be involved in election malpractices like vote-buying, intimidation of security operatives and sponsorship of political violence.

“All invading governors should leave since the campaign has ended.”

The TMG also said that the three leading political parties for the election had engaged in promoting violence and had also been inducing voters ahead of the poll.

This, according to the chairman” had increased the political tension ahead of the D-Day while calling on security agencies to clamp down on those involved in the act which she said violated the electoral law.

“Since the beginning of electioneering, the three major political parties, APC, PDP, and ZLP have been involved in promoting political banditry, violence and reprisal, allegations and counter-allegations, vote-buying and voters inducement at different levels and in varied forms. This action is illegal as it flouts electoral law.

“This has raised political tension in the state until a few days to the election when more security personnel were deployed in the state.

“TMG condemns this desperation for power by political parties as it undermines the fundamental tenet of democracy which is free choice.

“TMG appeals to political parties and candidates to translate their agreement to observe peace by consenting to sign peace accord into practice through maintenance of order and observe all the rules governing elections during and after the poll.

“Election should not be a do-or-die affair if the purpose is to serve and not to loot the treasury. We demand the establishment of Electoral Offences Mobile Courts in future to deal with electoral offenders with dispatch on the day of the election.”

She also said the “TMG had identified some local government areas as hotspots for electoral violence while calling on security agents deployed to ensure that nobody, no matter their positions, is allowed to disrupt the poll or manipulate it in any way.

“Eight hotspots have been projected by the TMG’s observers in local government areas at the end of the meeting held today, October 8, 2020. These are Akko South East, Ilaje, Oke-Igbo/Ile Oluji, Akoko South West, Owo, Idanre, Akure South, Ese Odo local government areas.

“We are aware that Police will be deploying 33,000 officers for election duty in the state.

She said that “This is more than the total police strength of some countries. So, the police force and other security agencies cannot afford to fail in ensuring violence-free, peaceful election by conducting themselves peacefully and professionally without bias.” (Vanguard)