The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, has raised the alarm that opposition political parties in the state have concluded plans to impersonate President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu.
The party said that is has uncovered impersonation plan of the opposition parties in the state to implicate APC by unleashing mayhem on innocent people.
Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Wednesday, alleged that the opposition parties have in their possession dangerous weapons, calling on the security agencies in the state to be vigilant and employ preventive efforts to counter the actions of these unscrupulous elements.
He said that the “APC was privy to the perfected plan of opposition members masquerading as APC members with the branded apparels of the APC with pictures of President Buhari, Vice President Osinbajo, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Its gubernatorial candidate and Alhaji Ejiogbe, the Oyo State Chairman of National Union of Road and Transport Workers (NURTW) to unleash mayhem on innocent people In order to discredit the party and destroy the existing peace in the state”.
He said, “We are equally aware that they have sewn Police uniforms to be used to perfect their rigging plans having realized that their defeat at the poll is imminent. It is pertinent to also dispel the rumour that has been threading for days now. Oppositionparties are used to fabricating lies and engage in mudslinging. For some times now, they have insisted on blackmailing our party with the story that APC is giving the electorates Kuli Kuli and Garri to get their votes. We can state without any equivocation that it is the evil machination of the agents of darkness who want the mantle of leadership at all cost in the state.
“The agents of the oppositions came to our campaign grounds at Igbo-Ora in Ibarapa Central and Moniya in Akinyele LG area with the intention of assassinating our Governorship Candidate. Many of our supporters were wounded during these attacks. We also recall how they attacked and burnt five vehicles of our House of Representative Candidate for Oluyole Federal Constituency, Hon. Tolu Sadipe. These hoodlums also vandalized the office and home of our candidate for Ido/Ibarapa Federal Constituency, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela. These are some of their despicable acts and we call on security agencies to be vigilant as we do not want anyone to spill the blood of the innocent.
“We know the opposition will go all out to make sure that Saturday’s Election is rigged but we believe the commitment and dedication of the electorates will triumph. We urge the people to vote for APC as it is the only party that can guarantee the development of the country and brighter future for our children.”
But, Engineer Akeem Olatunji, Director of Public Communications and New Media, African Democratic Congress (ADC) campaign, said that the statement has shows that APC was afraid of free and fair elections.
Olatunji, who spoke on behalf of the ADC gubernatorial candidate, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, said, “It is quite worrisome and frightening that a supposedly progressive party who came on board by defeating the then ruling party is afraid to conduct free and fair poll.
“We are very much aware of sinister move of Oyo State APC and their unholy alliance with the transport Union in the state under the leadership of Mr Ejiogbe in which commercial taxis are been forced to display Gov Ajimobi and Chief Bayo Adelabu campaign mobile advert on their vehicles. The Handshake Campaign Organization, the official handlers of Sen Olufemi Lanlehin gubernatorial bid is therefore calling on INEC not to allow NURTW under Mr Ejiogbe to handle the general elections sensitive materials because of their partiality as they could serve as tool for violence and rigging during the election process.
“The APC in Oyo state is behaving in such a manner not befitting a ruling party but we are not unmindful of Sen. Abiola Ajimobi’s fear of losing woefully to Sen Olusoji Akanbi of ADC due to latter’s sterling performance as the sitting Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial district of which Sen Ajimobi desires in other to provide covers for his 8 years misrule as Governor of the state”.
Publicity Secretary of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Barrister Olajide Olanipekun while reacting described the APC claim as an attempt to blackmail the opposition parties.
Olanipekun said, “All the allegations of the APC through its Spokesperson AbdulAzeez Olatunde are not only spurious by clear blackmail of the opposition by the ruling APC. Oyo state people should not be deceived by the antics of the ruling party who is afraid of the coming Elections as failure stares boldly at the party in the face.
“Zenith Labour Party Oyo state is known as a peaceful party and the leaders of the party are people of integrity who will not descend so low to the level of impersonating anyone or collaborate with some set of people to unleash myhem. We know nothing about the allegations.
“ZLP leaders and members are well known and will not foment troubles in the state as we are the Party waiting to form the next government in Oyo state. We of the ZLP hereby admonish Oyo state people to ignore the blackmail of APC because our party will not breach the peace as it is not in our character. We want Oyo state people to troupe out enmass and vote all ZLP candidates during the February 16 Elections as well as March 2nd Elections. However, if there is any breach of peace in Oyo state, before, during and after the general Elections, the ruling APC should be held responsible.”
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