In the build-up to the October 10 Ondo State governorship election, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo Chapter has alleged a plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cause violence during the exercise.

The opposition party accused Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of collusion with the security chiefs in the State of plans to cause mayhem during the polls.

It claimed that all petitions written to the offices of the service chiefs in relation to the ‘naked orgy of violence’ on the people of Ondo State by the APC have been ignored.

The PDP made the allegation in a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, signed by its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, on Wednesday, September 23.

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The PDP also alleged that the APC members are planning to repaint the campaign vehicles and brand them as observers’ vehicles during the election so that these vehicles can be used to convey weapons to actualize their rigging plan.

The letter read in part, “Over the past few weeks, we have noticed to our consternation, the culpability of the security chiefs in Ondo State in the mayhem perpetrated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration during the ongoing campaigns. 

“Mr President, all the petitions that have been written in relation to this naked orgy of violence on the peace-loving people of Ondo State by a government elected to protect their lives and properties have been ignored by the service chiefs. 

“We have also learnt of their plan to repaint campaign vehicles and brand them as observers’ vehicles during the election so that these vehicles can be used to convey weapons to actualize their rigging plan.

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“Right now, a lot of people have been maimed and injured. Petitions to the federal authorities have yielded nothing, not even the promise of an investigation. We want Your Excellency to be aware of these atrocities committed under your watch.”

The party said the APC wants to make the Ondo election a do-or-die affair because it has failed the people of the State, and vowed to resist any attempt to manipulate the result.

“Our people will resist imposition and manipulation of votes with the last drop of blood in their veins. It would be terrible for violence to engulf Ondo State during your tenure. Because of APC’s failure in Ondo State, there is a desperation to make the October governorship election in the state a do-or-die affair. Given Your Excellency’s professed commitment to free and fair polls in the wake of the just concluded governorship election in Edo State, we urge you to halt the onslaught on the opposition and people of Ondo State by Governor Akeredolu and his army of political thugs.”

Responding to this, the State APC Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaiye, denied the allegations, claiming that the PDP leaders are responsible for the bulk of crises recorded in the State so far.

Kalejaiye said, “The APC wishes to say that it has no reason whatsoever to engage in, or encourage thuggery. Violence and thuggery are not in the character of the ruling party. It is astonishing to hear the PDP accusing the ruling party of promoting a do-or-die approach to the election, which is actually their second name.

“The desperation of PDP leaders is responsible for the bulk of crises recorded so far in the state. The so-called ‘Akure Agenda’, because its candidate is from Akure, explains why the members from the capital have severally launched unprovoked attacks on our members.”

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Recall that the United States Government, after the Edo State election, expressed concerns over reports of some violence that emerged during the exercise, including vote-buying and intimidation of both voters and civil soviet domestic observers.

It urged all stakeholders, including the INEC, political parties, and the security services to improve the electoral process in the upcoming Ondo State governorship election slated for October 10, 2020.

The US Government had also imposed visa restrictions on Nigerians who tried to undermine the country’s democracy by causing violence or rigging elections.