Trouble In Abuja As 18 Political Parties Protest For Election Postponement In Ondo

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.

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.

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.