Ondo 2020: APC putting INEC, security agencies under pressure over October 10 poll, Wike raises alarm as stakeholders warn state will be ‘too dangerous’ for rigging
They said, considering the nature of Ondo State going by past elections since 1983, that rigging will
itbe dangerous for politicians wanting to hide under Buhari’s name to compromise the process.
Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has alleged that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) is pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to compromise the Ondo Governorship poll.
Having lost the Edo Governorship election to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike during a television programme on Friday said that the APC will do everything to win the Ondo poll.
The Rivers governor spoke just as some stakeholders in the Ondo State yet another all-important solo election said the Muhammadu Buhari administration should sustain his clarity in the coming election like he did in Edo.
They said, considering the nature of Ondo State going by past elections since 1983, that rigging will be dangerous for politicians wanting to hide under Buhari’s name to compromise the process.
Speaking on the television programme, Governor Wike a repeat of clean role by both INEC and security agencies of Edo election in Ondo poll will give victory to PDP.
“If INEC play the same role they played in Edo; and security agencies play the same role they played in Edo, I can assure you that PDP will win that election,” the former Education minister claimed.
“It is very obvious. Look, Nigerians are tired. Promises and promises from the party (APC). Nobody is seeing anything. The only fear I have as it concerns Ondo is that there is so much pressure on INEC.”
When asked the source of his information, the Rivers State leader insisted: “I don’t need to tell you,” stressing that it is an open secret that the APC is bent on winning the Ondo guber poll by all means.
“Everybody knows that. Even APC knows that they are putting so much pressure on INEC and security agencies,” he explained.
“And I see it in such a way that INEC may succumb to it. It is my prayer that they don’t; that they conduct it the same way they did in Edo.
“Having lost Edo, everything within APC will be done to make sure they don’t lose Ondo because their fear is that if they lose Ondo, Nigerians will say ‘Oh no, we can now see that this party (APC) is gone.’”
The Governor had equally said the international community played a huge role in ensuring a smooth governorship election in Edo State.
“One thing that played out and which I noticed was the role of the international community,” Wike added.
“For example, the US, the UK came out and said that there would be a visa ban if anybody tries anything in terms of violence or rigging and they have gone further to ban some governors.”
