The Social Democratic Party (SDP) weekend raised the alarm over what it described as “plots by the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to undermine” its growing influence and that of its candidate, Chief Segun Oni, in the forthcoming election, scheduled for June 18th, as preparations for the race hot up.
In a strong worded petition addressed to President Mohammad Buhari and the major Foreign Embassies in the country dated May 19, 2022 and signed by its National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam the party urged for their urgent intervention to allow for a free, fair and credible election in the state.
SDP also forwarded the copies of the petition to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the President (ONSA), the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the European Union, among others.
According to the petition, “As we are getting ready for the June 18, 2022 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, there growing concerns which need be highlighted for the general good of our electoral system and the deepening of our current democratic culture.
“The SDP has credible intelligence to the effect that the incumbent APC administration in the State and the PDP are strategizing to undermine the growing influence of the SDP and its Candidate, the former Governor of the state, Chief Segun Oni, what gave rise to this suspicious was the palpable sing of machinations that we witness on 6th April, 2022, when political hoodlums attacked the convoy led by our Candidate, Chief Oni at Efon Alaaye in Efon Alaaye Local Government Area of Ekiti State.”
The party pointed out that the attack which was widely reported in the media prompted the it to write a protest letter to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, adding, it was a likely pointer to what it envisaged in the days ahead.
“Consequently,” the petitioners said, “it’s our appeal to Embassies in Nigeria to keep an eye on thuggery, votes buying, rigging of election results, voters’ harassment and possible disruption of electoral processes”
They continued: “It is our considered opinion, the INEC should be put under pressure to do the needful by ensuring that the bimodal system works for effective results”.
While acknowledging the sincerity of the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmud Yakubu in trying to ensure a level playing ground for all in electoral processes in the country, the Party urged him to ensure that only credible electoral officials were assigned to conduct the Ekiti poll..
On security, the party appealed to the IGP, and the heads of other security forces that would be partaking in the election to be civil and neutral in the course of the national assignment
Said SDP: “We call on all the entire security agencies that would be assigned to the election in Ekiti State to ensure that every vote counts as that will greatly reduce voters apathy in the upcoming round of elections in 2023.”
The party further appealed to President Buhari “who approves the deployment of security agencies to various polling Units in the upcoming elections in Ekiti and Osun states to ensure that the legacy that he promised severally to bequeath to Nigeria, is free, fair and credible elections is being upheld”.
