The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ondo state governorship election, Agboola Ajayi has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of compromising Saturday’s election in the state. Nigerian Tribune reports.
Ajayi who spoke with newsmen shortly after voting at about 10:40 am in his polling unit 004, Apoi ward 2, Idumado Quarters, Kiribo Ese-Odo LGA, said the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu has failed the people of the state and should resign from office.
The candidate who had a hectic time before being accredited by the BVAS machine, said reports from across the state suggested that the electoral umpire connived with the ruling party to frustrate the election.
He also raised concerns over the high level of security deployment to his community, saying that the presence of a combined team of police, military and DSS operatives was not in the interest of the people.
Ajayi said, ” The system is not perfect, things are not working and it took more than 10 minutes before the BVAS could accredit me as the candidate of the PDP. There are lots of complaints here and there across the state.
“If INEC cannot successfully organize election in just one state, then you must know that we are running into anarchy in Nigeria.
“I have been getting reports across the state and it is the same, including me, I am a victim here in my unit and I want to say it is deliberate on the part of the REC and the INEC and don’t forget we have said earlier that we don’t trust Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola who is the REC; she can’t be fair.
“The system is compromised and there are complaints everywhere in the state including vote-buying, BVAS not working and don’t forget the machine is a rigging tool for them. It is a very shameful exercise and I think Nigerians should just call on INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, if he can’t do the job, he should honourably resign because the system is totally compromised, this is sad.
“Under Professor Jega as INEC chairman, our electoral process was getting to that international standard but Professor Yakubu has drawn us back, this is sad and Nigerians are not happy.”
On the security situation, the PDP candidate said, ” From my community here it is peaceful but accused the military operatives for deploying more men to his area and I would take it up with the brigade commander. They can’t be intimidating the voters. How do you station seven to 10 armed soldiers very close to my polling unit; we are not at war here!
“On the voters turn out, despite the intimidation, people were willing to vote because they are frustrated already with things in the state and the country.”