The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that no amount of political maneuvering by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will distract it from securing victory for its candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in the upcoming Ondo State governorship election on Saturday.
Speaking to journalists in Okitipupa on Wednesday, APC Campaign Council Spokesman, Banji Okunomo, dismissed the PDP’s recent accusations of planned election rigging as a sign of the party’s frustration and lack of readiness.
Okunomo stated that while the APC has been actively campaigning across every part of the state, the PDP has resorted to making unfounded allegations instead of engaging the electorate.
“Instead of focusing on their campaign, the PDP is spreading baseless claims of a rigging plot. If such plans existed, why would APC engage in the extensive and aggressive campaigning we’ve been doing over the past weeks?” Okunomo asked.
He emphasized that the APC has no intention of compromising the integrity of the electoral process or influencing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, stating, “We are committed to adhering to the electoral rules. Our widespread mobilisation efforts are based on our confidence in Aiyedatiwa’s popularity and acceptance among voters.”
According to Okunomo, Aiyedatiwa remains committed to a credible election, believing that his track record and human-centered approach over the past 10 months have won the hearts of the electorate.
“We don’t need to manipulate the process to secure a win on Saturday. The APC is a well-liked party, and Aiyedatiwa is a candidate who has gained widespread support across the state,” he asserted.
Okunomo highlighted that the APC has conducted one of the most extensive campaign tours in the state’s history, visiting all 18 local government areas, including the most remote communities. He noted the warm reception Aiyedatiwa received and the assurances from residents of their support at the polls.
He attributed the PDP’s current approach to the internal disarray and unpopularity of its governorship candidate, following defections of key party members after the primaries.
Okunomo called on the PDP to focus on rebuilding its party rather than making baseless accusations, advising them to address the fallout from their internal conflicts ahead of future elections.