Some protesters in Ondo West and Ondo East Local Government Areas of Ondo State have demanded for the cancellation of the March 9 State House of Assembly polls in the state.
The protesters, who in their hundreds stormed the state’s headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and barricaded its gate, shut activities at the office for several hours, alleging that the last Saturday’s election was characterized by irregularities.
According to the protesters, who were of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, African Democratic Party, ADC, the electoral malpractices such as rigging and over-voting were evident during the poll, hence, the reason for the results of the three constituencies in the two local governments should be cancelled and fresh elections be conducted.
The protesters, which were led by Chief Segun Adegoke and the lawmaker representing Ondo West Constituency II, Hon Ifadayo Akinsoyinu, rejected the victory of APC and ZLP in the three state constituencies in the two local government areas for alleged over voting, non-usage of card reader machines, harassment of voters among others.
With the gate of the INEC office locked as well as security operatives stationed around the electoral office complex, the protesters were armed with placards baring various inscriptions such as: “Our people were maimed,” “INEC stop playing God.”
Others were: “INEC a collaborator to rigging in Ondo Kingdom,” “INEC must cancel MHA result election in Ondo Kingdom,” “Akeredolu empowers youths as thugs, to mention few”.”
However, the protesters maintained that their candidates would approach the election petition tribunal if INEC refused to address their grievances on time.
Reacting, the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP Chairman in the state, Chief Wale Gbakinro, distanced his party from the protest urged them to channel their grievances to the law court, Alex Kalejaye, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, described the allegations of the protesters as unfounded.
Gbekinro said, “We advise them to stop the mischievous tendencies and approach the court of competent jurisdiction to seek legal redress if they genuinely have any case. Our party is focused on delivering on our campaign promises and our goal is continue to raise Ondo state to an enviable height as we have always done.”
In a statement, Kalejaye noted that, “We also encourage the PDP to grow up and quit the realm of bad losers. They should learn to accept defeat without sulking; and support the sincere efforts by the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led government to enhance a solid economic growth in the State.”
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