Gale Of Violence Ahead Ondo Poll As INEC Rally Stakeholders For Peace Accord |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

As the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) concludes arrangements to rally political parties that are participating in Saturday’s Governorship election in Ondo state to sign a peace accord, chains of violence were recorded in the state at the weekend.

In all, 17 political parties and their candidates have received INEC’s nod to participate in the election, coming up after the Edo state poll of October 10.

INEC Director, Festus Okoye, explained that a similar thing was done in Edo state and “it worked out” which culminated in violent free election witnessed in the state.

The Commission has invited the 17 political parties and their candidates for the event, slated for Tuesday in Akure and will be presided over by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu.

However, the gale of violent attacks among political parties’ supporters were recorded in the state, especially in Akure, where they engaged in gun duel.

It was gathered that supporters of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and those of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) engaged themselves in a gun duel, after which many people sustained various degrees of wound.

The incident, which happened on Saturday evening, around Obanla area, one of the hot beds of violence in Akure, was coming after the Owo and Ifon attacks that left many injured.

Leadership of the three leading political parties in the state, PDP, APC and Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP), have pointed accusing fingers at each other over the incidents.

Apart from persons arrested, arraigned and detained by court order in connection with another violence at Ipele, security agents in the state seem to be helpless about the situation, while parties engage in accusations and counter accusations.