Ahead of today’s Supreme Court judgment to determine the victory of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, in the June 21, 2014 governorship election, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to attack its members and supporters, if judgment goes against Fayose.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary in Ekiti, Taiwo Olatubosun, on Monday, the APC said it had discovered plans by the PDP to burn down houses of its leaders and cause bodily harm to members and supporters if the judgment is not favourable to Fayose.
The Supreme Court will be ruling today, to determine the victory of Fayose, arising from the petition filed by APC challenging the June 21, 2014 governorship election, which returned him to office as governor.
APC, in its petition, had alleged that fraud, including perjury, unlawful use of soldiers, intimidation of supporters and compromised ballot papers, were used to give victory to PDP at the June 21, 2014 poll.
It would be recalled that at the lower tribunal, the petition was dismissed, which prompted the APC to approach the Court of Appeal, which also dismissed the petition, but noted illegality in the deployment of soldiers to rig election in the Fayose’s favour and agreed that he (Fayose) was legally removed from office, having been indicted in the N1.3 billion poultry project fraud over which he was impeached by Ekiti State House of Assembly.
Also, while filling his nomination paper in his Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) form for the 2014 governorship contest, Fayose was alleged to have lied on oath that he had never been indicted, and that he was never legally impeached.
The APC spokesman in Ekiti said: “Since the Ekitigate tape emerged, PDP has become more desperate in its actions over where the pendulum will swing in the impending judgment. They have mapped out strategies to attack our members if the judgment does not favour the governor.
“In Ikere-Ekiti, for instance, they have threatened to burn down the homes of two members of the House of Assembly in Ikere Local Government Area, Yomi Daramola and Clement Adu Sunday. One Ejila and Ibrahim are said to be the arrowheads of the planned attack.
“On Monday, PDP members attacked street sweepers in Ikere-Ekiti, accusing them of not voting for PDP in the weekend election while in Ado-Ekiti, the home of APC candidate for the last weekend House of Assembly election, Sola Olofin, was attacked.
“Even, they are planning to attack the home of another Assembly candidate, Sola Fatoba. These attacks are carryover of the violence during Saturday’s State Assembly election, which was marred with ballot snatching and violence.”
The party has, however, called on security agencies to provide adequate security for APC members and arrest those causing crises in the state.
•Adapted from Daily Independent. Photo shows Governor Fayose.
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