Ondo 2020: YIAGA raises the alarm over arms stockpiling ahead of election

*TMG decries governors’ presence in Ondo, identifies 8 hotspots

YOUTH Initiative For Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), an election observer group monitoring the Ondo Governorship election scheduled for tomorrow, has identified 11 local government as hotspots in the state.

YIAGA Africa noted that arms stockpiling which may be deployed for violence and harassment is ongoing in the identified local governments by the henchmen of politicians.

The Chairman of the Board of Yiaga Africa, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, said this at a press briefing in Akure, yesterday.

The group listed 11 local government areas where it observed arms stockpiling as follows: Akoko South West, Akure South, Akure North. Akoko South-East, Akoko North-West, Irele, Idanre, Ese-Odo, Okitipupa, Ilaje and Owo local government areas.

Abdullahi said, “Yiaga Africa’s pre-election observation findings revealed a consistent trend of violence and arms stockpiling across some local government areas in the state.

“Given the background of pre-election violence and gangster politics, the state may witness a further decline in voter turnout. The low turnout may enhance chances for electoral manipulation in the strongholds of the major political parties particularly in rural areas where election rigging usually takes place.”

In his remarks, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, said “Security agencies should continue to address early warning signs of electoral violence and neutralise security threats in a professional manner to avoid escalation or spillover on election day.”

Meanwhile, in a related development, another group, the Transition Monitoring Group which is a coalition of over 400 civil society organisations, has condemned the manner governors are flocking to Ondo State ahead of tomorrow’s election.

The Chairman, TMG, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said at a pre-election press briefing today that the refusal of these governors to leave the state constituted a threat to the peaceful and credible conduct of the election.

She, however, did not disclose the governors present in the state.
The governors, noted Akiyode-Afolabi could use their immunity to get involved in malpractices like vote-buying, intimidation and could also sponsor political violence.

She said, “TMG condemns the practice of governors from other states that have invaded Ondo State and refused to leave after campaign has ended. These governors who travelled and sponsored their political expedition with the meagre resources of their states may constitute a threat to free and fair election by taking advantage of their immunity to be involved in election malpractices like vote-buying, intimidation of security operatives and sponsorship of political violence. All invading governors should leave since campaign has ended.”

The TMG chairman said, “Since the beginning of electioneering, the three major political parties, APC, PDP and ZLP have been involved in promoting political banditry, violence and reprisal, allegations and counter-allegations, vote-buying and voters inducement at different levels and in varied forms. This action is illegal as it flouts electoral law.

“This has raised political tension in the state until a few days to the election when more security personnel were deployed in the state. TMG condemns this desperation for power by political parties as it undermines the fundamental tenet of democracy which is free choice.

“TMG appeals to political parties and candidates to translate their agreement to observe peace by consenting to sign peace accord into practice through maintenance of order and observe all the rules governing elections during and after the poll.

“Election should not be a do-or-die affair if the purpose is to serve and not to loot the treasury. We demand the establishment of Electoral Offences Mobile Courts in future to deal with electoral offenders with dispatch on the day of election.”

She seized the opportunity to call on security agencies to clamp down on those involved in the act which she said violated the electoral law.

According to Akinyode-Afolabi, TMG had identified some local government areas as hotspots for electoral violence while calling on security agents deployed to ensure that nobody, no matter their positions, is allowed to disrupt the poll or manipulate it in any way.

Akiyode-Afolabi added, “Eight hotspots have been projected by the TMG’s observers in local government areas at the end of the meeting held today, October 8, 2020. These are Akko South East, Ilaje, Oke-Igbo/Ile Oluji, Akoko South West, Owo, Idanre, Akure South, Ese Odo local government areas.

“We are aware that Police will be deploying 33,000 officers for election duty in the state. This is more than the total police strength of some countries. So, the police force and other security agencies cannot afford to fail in ensuring violence-free, peaceful election by conducting themselves peacefully and professionally without bias.”