The State Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State to adopt a more serious political stance and cease its unfounded accusations as the gubernatorial election draws near.
Barr. Banji Okunomo, the spokesperson for the Campaign Council, emphasized that there is no indication that the PDP is prepared for the impending election. He dismissed allegations made by the Ondo PDP claiming a security breach involving a supposed supporter of APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa.
Okunomo stated: “Our attention has been drawn to a recent publication by the PDP alleging breach of security by a supposed member of the APC. We state, without equivocation, that this report is untrue. We also want to caution the PDP to stop making comments that could heat the polity”.
“Those who know Mr. Governor can testify to his gentlemanly disposition. Governor Ayedatiwa is a level-headed and civilized politician who does not breed or encourage political gangsterism or hooliganism”.
He continued: ““The PDP should stop alleging criminal plans by the APC. The APC is not only law-abiding, it will not tolerate anything that could undermine the electoral process. It is a known fact that the Amotekun corps is not constitutionally allowed to take on security duties during the elections. We, therefore, find it awkward that the PDP is alleging that the APC is planning to use men of the corps for electoral duties. That did not happen in previous elections, and it will not happen now”.
Additionally, Okunomo clarified, “We must also state that it is not true that the APC campaign Council in Ondo State has co-opted the Chairman of the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State, Mr. Adeleye, as the head of its security committee. We particularly find this allegation laughable because we expect the PDP to do better.
He remarked on the PDP’s tendency for unfounded allegations, highlighting their alleged misleading statements regarding the residency status of the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ondo State. “Few weeks ago, the PDP called for the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ondo State alleging that she is from Ondo State. This was later found to be untrue as the said woman is not from this State. Now that their propaganda has failed, they are looking for more false stories to circulate.”
“We advise the PDP in Ondo State to get more serious. They should stop ranting or give up if they are tired of promoting their candidate to the people. Rather than focus on issue-based campaigns, the PDP has taken to making baseless accusations. The supposed opposition party now thrives in pettiness and mischievous propaganda”.
Okunomo further noted, “Nothing from the conduct of the PDP shows that they are ready for the governorship election on November 16, 2024”, adding that the PDP´s attitudes point to the fact that they are developing cold feet as they anticipate their defeat in the forthcoming governorship election.”
He advised the PDP to take cues from the APC’s campaigning strategies, stating, “The PDP should take a cue from the modus operandi of the APC and learn the art of campaigning. The APC has focused on campaigning rather than engage in bitter politics despite the myriads of accusations that could be used against PDP. One wonders how an acclaimed opposition party will not focus on the main issues and be going about peddling rumours about how the APC is planning to rig elections.
“If there were plans to rig the elections, Governor Ayedatiwa could simply have leveraged on the power of incumbency and wide acceptance by not embarking on rigorous door-to-door campaigns, speaking to people from town to town and also reaching out to people at the grassroots but because he understands the power of the people in democracy, the Governor is committed to his campaigns across board”, Okunomo concluded.
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