PDP plans to rig Ekiti governorship election – APC

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has accused Nigeria's ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of plotting to rig Saturday's governorship election in the state.

The incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi, is the APC candidate and one of his major challengers is Ayo Fayose, the candidate of the PDP.


The new National Chairman of the APC, John Oyegun, made the allegation of rigging in his speech on Wednesday during the inauguration the new executives.

"My first message today is to President Goodluck Jonathan regarding a series of occurrences that point to the fact that the PDP is bent on rigging the elections and writing the results of the Saturday elections in Ekiti even before the polls open," said Mr. Oyegun who was elected at the APC National Convention that ended last Saturday.

"Less than 72 hours to the governorship elections in Ekiti, there are ominous signs that the PDP led government is bent on influencing the outcome of the elections come Saturday June 21st," he added.

Mr. Oyegun said his party would "accept the outcome of the election in Ekiti unless the authorities provide convincing explanations to the series of questionable developments in recent times.

"In the last several days, many developments have occurred that have exposed the covert and criminal effort to subvert the rights of the citizens of Ekiti and the country's electoral law."
Mr. Oyegun mentioned some of the incidents as the arrest of about 11 persons, who were allegedly thumb printing printed ballot papers, by security operatives at a building owned by Mr. Fayose's campaign manager; and the gun attack on Mr. Fayemi and APC supporters by the police leading to the death of one of them.
The party chairman also accused a serving minister of being involved in the sinister plot to rig the election.

"On Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 two loaded aircraft landed at the Akure airport with undisclosed content. The presence of the Minister of State, Defence, Musliu Obanikoro who was on ground to ensure the safe delivery of the cargoes suggests official collusion and knowledge.

"The contents were immediately loaded into a bullion van under the watchful eyes of the Minister of State, Defence, Obanikoro," he said.
Mr. Oyegun said, "This series of developments and events are undeniable pointers to a desperate plot to rig the elections at all cost.
"We warn Mr. President, that election rigging in a particular of the country in the past has always had serious consequences for the government in power and the country as a whole. As it happened in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Republics. The APC will not fold its arms and watch the electoral process being brazenly subverted.

"Our party will not accept any result from Ekiti that does not flow from a transparent election. We are not asking for any favors. We only demand a free and fair election."

The party also called on the international community to be vigilant on the elections.
"For our friends in the international community, there is no better time to speak up against these tendencies and ominous signs. They need no further pointers to know that some people are desperate," he said.


Read his full inauguration speech below
SPEECH BY CHAIRMAN, ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, APC, CHIEF JOHN ODIGWE OYEGUN
AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE NEW EXECUTIVE OF THE PARTY. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18TH, 2014
PROTOCOL
CODE RED IN EKITI.

Good Afternoon,
My first message today is to President Goodluck Jonathan regarding a series of occurrences that point to the fact that the PDP is bent on rigging the elections and writing the results of the Saturday elections in Ekiti even before the polls open. If this dangerous trend is not arrested, the consequences will be dire for democracy and our country.

The All Progressives Congress, APC will not accept the outcome of the election in Ekiti unless the authorities provide convincing explanations to the series of questionable developments in recent times.

Less than 72 hours to the governorship elections in Ekiti, there are ominous signs that the PDP led government is bent on influencing the outcome of the elections come Saturday June 21st. This series of developments and events are undeniable pointers to a desperate plot to rig the elections at all cost.
In the last several days, many developments have occurred that have exposed the covert and criminal effort to subvert the rights of the citizens of Ekiti and the country's electoral law.
Barely two Sundays ago, our supporters during a peaceful procession in Ekiti were tear gassed and infact one was killed. The elected governor of the State Dr. Fayemi was also tear gassed and barely escaped being shot. Yet, instead of quickly prosecuting the police officers involved in this crisis, the Police authorities simply went ahead in the most bizarre turn of events and charged a Commissioner and eleven others from Ekiti State were charged with acts of terrorism a few days to the election. Meanwhile, the police that shot the APC member walks the street free.

Again, only last week a truck was intercepted with over 200 boxes of electoral materials by the security agents. INEC quickly claimed it was wasted materials, whereas the story of the driver contradicted that of INEC. To date, Nigerians are yet to be provided with full information about the culprits behind these suspicious materials.

On Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 two loaded aircraft landed at the Akure airport with undisclosed content. The presence of the Minister of State, Defence, Musliu Obanikoro who was on ground to ensure the safe delivery of the cargoes suggests official collusion and knowledge. The contents were immediately loaded into a bullion van under the watchful eyes of the Minister of State, Defence, Obanikoro.

Again on Wednesday, June 18th , a Pro-Fayose and PDP gang was busted in a resort owned by Fayose's campaign manager thumb printing ballot papers ahead of the Saturday elections. The 22 young men who were arrested were also caught preparing INEC form EC8.

Mr. President, there is clear intent and deliberate ploy to subvert the elections. The APC at this point has little or no faith in the often touted promises and commitment of this administration to a free and fear election in Ekiti. Having earlier declared the Ekiti election as "WAR", the PDP is now living true to that promise with the Ministers of State, Defence and Police Affairs leading the troops. Pray, what business does the Minister of State Defence, Obanikoro have supervising the offloading of mysterious cargo in Akure while the North East is still being ravaged by Boko Haram and over 200 girls remain missing and unaccounted for.

We warn Mr. President, that election rigging in a particular of the country in the past has always had serious consequences for the government in power and the country as a whole. As it happened in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Republics. The APC will not fold its arms and watch the electoral process being brazenly subverted. Our party, will not accept any result from Ekiti that does not flow from a transparent election. We are not asking for any favors. We only demand a free and fair election.

For our friends in the international community, there is no better time to speak up against these tendencies and ominous signs. They need no further pointers to know that some people are desperate. The greatest danger is that we do not know how many other places the thumb printing of ballot papers are taking place in and around Ekiti. The APC commends our security agencies for their alertness in this instance and urge them to be always professional and thorough.

CHIEF JOHN ODIGWE OYEGUN
National Chairman
All Progressives Congress

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