Ondo Decides 2020: PDP Asks Buhari To Caution Akeredolu

Ahead of the governorship election in Ondo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to caution Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for using thugs to cause violence in the state.

Petitioning President Buhari in a letter by Kennedy Peretei, the party's state publicity secretary, PDP also accused the state security agencies of being complicit.

According to the PDP, Akeredolu goes to campaign with buses of political thugs that cause violence during the campaign.

READ ALSO: Ondo Decides 2020: Agboola Part Of APC's Failed Administration - Jegede

 “We believe that there is complicity involving even the Inspector General of Police and some service chiefs. Anywhere Akeredolu goes to campaign, about five or six buses loaded with political thugs, wielding guns accompany him. Only on Tuesday, September 22, these thugs unleashed violence on the people during Akeredolu’s campaign in Idanre.

“The story has been the same anywhere he goes, be it Akure or Ondo town. If care is not taken, there will be genocide in Ondo State,” the statement by PDP read in part.

Responding to the allegations  Alex Kalejaiye, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress denied the allegations, saying that the party had no reason to engage in or encourage thuggery.

 “The APC wishes to say that it has no reason whatsoever to engage in, or encourage thuggery. Violence and thuggery are not in the character of the ruling party. It is astonishing to hear the PDP accusing the ruling party of promoting a do-or-die approach to election, which is actually their second name.

“The desperation of PDP leaders is responsible for the bulk of crises recorded so far in the state. The so-called ‘Akure Agenda’, because its candidate is from Akure, explains why the members from the capital have severally launched unprovoked attacks on our members,” Kalejaiye said.

It will be recalled that the Zenith Labour party yesterday raised a similar alarm, accusing Akeredolu of sending thugs to attack the campaign office of Ajayi Agboola its candidate at the forthcoming election in the state.