Come out enmasse to vote, Oyo APC urges residents

By Akeem Abas

 

Ahead of March 18 Governorship/House of Assembly election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called on residents to come out enmasse to exercise their franchise on Saturday.

This is contained in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Olawale Sadare, on Tuesday in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that media reports have placed Oyo among the few volatile states where cases of violence and brigandage are likely to mar the conduct of the election.

NAN reports that there have been exchange of brickbats among leaders and members of various political parties in the state as they were accusing one another of stoking violence ahead of the election.

It was in view of this that APC urged people to disregard the threat of violence, appealing to them to come out enmasse and exercise their voting rights without any fear of attacks or molestation.

“We heard a particular political party has been going round, threatening voters to either vote for them or stay indoor to avoid dire consequences of voting candidates of other political parties.

“We have documented evidence of a secret meeting held at a private facility in Ibadan few days ago.

“A political leader at the meeting handed a script to five ring leaders of a violent gang based in Nalende-Oniyanrin area of Ibadan metropolis,” Shadare said.

He further alleged that names of the gang leaders contacted to unleash the violence in some identified areas have been revealed, calling for collective vigilance in all the polling stations.

“It is also necessary to intimate the general public that collective vigilance would be required in all the polling stations.

“This is to disorganise all the disgruntled elements who have been mobilised and equipped to instigate violence where rigging is made difficult or impossible,” Shadare said.

He also raised alarm on the alleged plans by a party to stuff ballot boxes with prepared ballot papers where result does not favour it to trigger a case of over-voting where necessary.

“With all these and many exclusive information available to us, we are urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure strict adherence to the full usage of BVAS.

“INEC should avoid conniving with unscrupulous political players to compromise the exercise.

“We are appealing to all security agents and polling agents to be alive to their duties on the day of election and ensure that the process is not compromised or sabotaged,” he said.

(NAN)