By Dayo Omoogun
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed fears of possible voter apathy in the Ondo Gubernatorial polls scheduled for next Saturday
as s result of threats of violence by parties in the contest which could hurt the chances of its candidate, incumbent Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who the party believes has achieved a lot in his first tenure.
The party said “The heightened threats of violence by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the lead up to the October 10 Governorship Election in Ondo State is aimed at causing voter apathy in the face of the unprecedented achievements of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who is standing for reelection.”
Akeredolu who is the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is running for a second term.
“It is no surprise that days to the Ondo Governorship election, the APC continues to receive decampees mainly from the PDP, ZLP and other political parties in support of the reelection of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
“Using the last Edo Governorship election as a benchmark, the task before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and our security services is to ensure that valid votes count and the safety of the electorate is guaranteed.
The APC says it is well aware of the plans by the PDP and ZLP to criminally influence the outcome of the October 10 Ondo Governorship election through violence and other ignominious and tired undemocratic tactics.
“We must all be on guard to prevent this. APC’s resolve is unchanged. The will of the electorate must prevail. It is democratic and progressive.
As part of the last minute campaigns prior to the battle royale on Saturday, the party in a statement on Thursday issued by Yekini Nabena listed several areas where it believes that the governor had performed creditably to include education, healthcare delivery, infrastructure development, security, youth empowerment and industrialization
Furthermore, the party stated that within 3½ years, Governor Akeredolu administration has taken Ondo state from zero to eight functional industries; worked on over 403 kilometers of roads; renovated 660 schools; rehabilitated 1928 rehabilitated boreholes providing portable water; generated over N2.2 billion internal revenue, representing 300% improvement from previous administration; cleared seven months salary backlog owed workers by his predecessor; upgraded the state’s security apparatus which has also benefited the South West zone and neighbouring Niger Delta states; ensured judicious use, probity and accountability of the state’s resources and ensured even spread in the allocation of state resources and projects.
“Governor Akeredolu’s administration has attracted multi-billion naira local and foreign direct investments to the state creating massive employment and boosting the state’s economy; signed into law, a contributory health insurance scheme which has enabled all classes of people in the state access to affordable health care services; successfully domesticated and is implementing the diversification and agriculture drive of the APC government through training, capacity building and a Public Private Partnership which is gainfully engaging thousands of farmers and allied service providers.