Postpone Ondo Guber Election Group Tells INEC

The Yoruba Solidarity Forum, (YSF), has called on the Federal Government to break its silence over the ongoing intrigues trailing the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State and come up with a position that will be suitable to the people

According to the Yoruba pro-self-determination group, the long silence of the Federal Government over the Ondo election is suspect and smirks of an attempt to rail road a particular candidate on the people.

Speaking through its General Secretary, Kasali Olaosebikan, the group warned of a dire consequence should the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, goes ahead with the conduct of the election billed for Saturday, without taking due cognisance of lingering tussles tailing the contest.

Olaosebikan who spoke to newsmen in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, bemoaned the action of the Federal Government, which according to him is “now donning the toga of a totalitarian after the loss of the Rivers State election to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.”

According to him, the naked manipulations that led to the coasting home with victory, the All Progressives Party, APC, in Edo State would be met with stiff resistance in Ondo State, should that be the onus of the unfolding tactics.

The group accused the Federal Government of openly taking sides with the candidate of the APC in the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, ostensibly to score political points as a result of the self-inflicted internal crisis rocking the party

Olaosebikan said the attempt to score political point at the expense of the people of Ondo State would be met with stiff resistance as the people would fight for their rights.

“The right to vote and be voted for in a free and fair election, organised by the Federal Government is the exclusive preserve of the people of Ondo State and any attempt to deny them of such right would not be handled with gloves.

“We have watched, with keen interest, the double standard at play in the Ondo election, compared with what transpired in Edo State, when the political climate as at then was visibly clearer. We expect an unbiased Federal Government and INEC to have risen to the occasion and salvaged it by ensuring a postponement with ample time and opportunity for the contestants as well as the political parties carry out their election requirements to the letters.

“YSF is calling on the Fdderal government to, within 48 hours order the INEC to postpone the dates of the election by atleast three weeks to allow for fair play and justice. We have witnessed so much political bloodshed in Ondo State in the past and we cannot allow another one this time,” Olaosebikan stressed.

The group also called on all agitated citizens of Ondo State to be calm as it assured that the INEC would be left with no option than to postpone the election in view of current realities.