PDP, 17 other parties storm Abuja over Ondo polls

The PDP has been joined by 17 political parties in the fight for the postponement of the Ondo polls

– Abuja on Monday, November 21, was in a frenzy, as the parties stormed INEC headquarters

– The parties have threatened to take action if INEC does not heed their call

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been joined by 17 other political parties, to call for the postponement of the Ondo State governorship election slated for Saturday, November 26.

The PDP supporters say they want the election postponed for another 2 weeks

They alleged that the level of insecurity in the state had risen to what they described as an unbearable level, thereby forcing their candidates to stop campaigning across the state.

The Punch reports that they threatened that if the commission refused to postpone the election, they would take further steps in the shortest time.

The National Chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkardri Abdusalam, read a speech on behalf of other parties at a press conference in Abuja.

In the speech titled, “The urgent need for postponing the Ondo State governorship election date to avoid inevitable crises,” Abdulsalam stated that Nigeria could not afford to have Ondo State engulfed in “avoidable political crises orchestrated by a few individuals” .

The outgoing Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, came into office through Labour Party before defecting to the PDP.

Mimiko’s candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), who is also the candidate of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the party, had been disqualified by INEC.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, was affirmed by INEC based on a court ruling, as the candidate of the party for the election.

Ibrahim is the candidate of the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the party.

The Sheriff faction had asked the electoral commission to disregard the call for the postponement of the election.

It said the faction and its candidate were ready for the election.

Supporters of the PDP besieged INEC office

Apart from the LP, other political parties which called for the postponement of the election on Monday included the United Progressives Party, National Conscience Party, African Democratic Congress, Peoples Redemption Party, Progressives Peoples Alliance and Peoples Party of Nigeria.

Others were the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Better Nigeria Progressive Party, Democratic Peoples Congress, Democratic Peoples Party, Peoples for Democratic Change, Peoples Party of Nigeria, United Democratic Party, Advance Congress of Democrats, Peoples Progressives Party and Independent Democrats.

Majority of these political parties are believed not to be on the ground in the state.

Abdulasalam said: “Another critical concern is the growing level of violence and insecurity in the Ondo political environment prior to the governorship election on Saturday.

“In recognition of this ugly fact, we also take this opportunity to call on the relevant security agencies (the Police, DSS, NSCDC), to immediately put pressure on INEC to postpone the election date to a possible date after the court processes have been completed, but within the constitutional provisions, to guarantee a peaceful and healthy political environment for the election.

“In the Edo State governorship election, which held a few months ago, INEC upheld the candidacy of the Senator Ahmed Markarfi-led PDP as the authentic group to present a candidate for the party; now in the Ondo State governorship election slated for Saturday, the same electoral umpire is upholding the governorship candidacy of the Senator Sheriff-led faction of the party under the guise of obeying a court order.