CNPP Cautions Against Violence Ahead Ondo Poll |The Source

By Ayodele Oni, Akure

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, (CNPP), in Ondo State, has expressed concern over the spate of violence and intolerance being witnesssed among political parties ahead of October 20 Governorship election in the state.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Akure, the chairman of CNPP, Mr Rotimi Boboye accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), of being behind series of reported violence in the state.

He stated: “We have observed the recourse to violence, intimidation and subterfuge by officials of the outgoing APC government in Ondo State.

“This dangerous development was manifested in the recent local government election largely boycotted by many political parties, while a few of our members participated.

“In the said sham of an election, not only were candidates of participating parties intimidated, harrased and violently assaulted, voters were disenfranchised and figures concocted to meet the pre planned agenda of the outgoing APC government.”

According to him, rather than abate, such violence has taken new dimensions with meetings of political parties being invaded by known thugs.

Boboye pointed out that the spreading violence may not be unconnected with the well articulated, though sinister position expressed by a self confessed militant, and who not only boasted of being in possession of high calibre arms, but went ahead to name known harbingers of violence that are to be recruited to cause mayhem from within and outside the State.

“Spreading across the state are confirmed incidences of battered heads, broken limbs and bruised bodies which allign with the ‘strategy’ openly canvassed by Mr lsaac Kekemeke which is yet to be condemned by his party, the APC.

“These have also been followed with illegal arrests, dehumanising treatment and detention of members of the opposition parties by police and military officers.

“The only way to avoid a sad repeat of the events of the better forgotten experience is to arrest the descent into anarchy that current trend portend.

“We expect nothing but professionalism and demonstrable fairness from the police and indeed all the security agencies.

“Our minimum request is that all agencies to be involved in the forthcoming polls display obvious neutrality and fairness to all.

“We are aware of clandestine plans to arrest and detain effective and active opposition politicians across the state on trumped up accusations before the election only to release them after the polls, we warn that such could only heighten tension which may result in public tumult.

“We as members of the CNPP have resolved to conduct ourselves in the most civil and most decorous manner in the forthcoming election, but will not watch the outgoing government and party throw our dear state into unpredictable darkness.”