The factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has called for the immediate postponement of the governorship election scheduled for Saturday in Ondo state.
Clement Faboyede, the factional Chairman of the People's Democratic Party in Ondo state, made the call on Thursday at a press briefing in Akure the state capital.
Mr. Faboyede alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refused to issue the Voters Register register to the crisis-ridden factional body of the PDP.
He claimed that the electoral body has also prevented the agents of the party from being registered to participate and monitor the Saturday Guber election.
Mr. Faboyede noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some cabals in the presidency are trying to destabilize the peaceful atmosphere of the state ahead of Saturday's election.
"Up till this moment, as I am addressing you, INEC is yet take the list of party agents from us while the one submitted earlier has been declared illegal.
"The impostors and past State Executive led by one Biyi Poroye was declared legal by the Federal Appeal Court and hence all actions purportedly carried out by this group is illegal.
"What is happening now is the fault of INEC because they obeyed a very wrong order of Justice Okon Abang which the Appellate Court described as judicial abuse, fraud and rascality.
"In that light, we are calling on the INEC that PDP as a party in Ondo state has not submitted party agents names as we are speaking right now" Mr. Faboyede added.
Mr. Faboyede said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should obey the electoral law by postponing the Saturday Guber election.
He maintained that his faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State was not prepared to participate in any form of "illegality."
"We don't want to waste our energy on illegality,, and we are now calling on INEC to please obey the law and the statutory days as stipulated by the electoral act.
"We are asking that the election should be postponed by thirty days which is one month because that is the law and for peace and justice to reign supreme in Ondo state they should give us the Voters Register Lists" he added.
The PDP factional chairman also claimed that the peace in the state is being threatened by the activities of sponsored thugs and hoodlums in the state
"Just yesterday night in Ose Local Government some thugs of APC went inside the homes of the PDP supporters and macheted them, and they sustained various degrees of injuries.
"There is chaos and the state has turned into a police state and lamented the heavy presence of the security agencies in the state.
In the interest of peace and fair play justice we are calling on the Federal INEC to please postponed the Ondo State election for thirty days and give us the voters register forthwith.
He also challenged the electoral body to publish the names of its returning and collation officers for the Saturday poll by posting for the public consumption.
"We're putting it to INEC that the collation and returning officers from the wards and local government are APC sympathizers and, agents," Mr. Faboyede said.
The factional PDP Chairman also asked President Mohammadu Buhari to force the Independent National Electoral (INEC) to postponed the governorship election.
"We are begging Mr. President to see to this and force INEC to obey the law by postponing the governorship election," he said.
Despite Mr. Faborode's claims, INEC official said there is nothing in the Nigerian constitutions that empowers the commission to do any of the things listed by the factional state PDP.
INEC State Electoral Commission, Segun Agbaje emphatically told the media at INEC HQ in Akure that the commission was ready for the election. He blamed the internal crisis of the PDP for the chaosobserved at the election.
Photo By SaharaReporters: Ondo State Factional Chairman, Clement Faboyede addressing journalists shortly n Akure
