Ondo polls: Yoruba group calls for postponement
The Oodua Renaissance Movement (ORM), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be unbiased in the conduct of the governorship lection slated for Saturday, November 26, 2016, in Ondo State and to tow the path of honour by postponing the election date to allow for proper preparation among the contestants
Speaking with journalists in Lagos after an emergency meeting of its members, ORM Convener, Gboyega Adeoye, said the group’s stance hinged on the sensitivity of the election and the setting of precedence in Edo State, where election was postponed for two weeks to avert break down of law and order.
According to him, the need for the shifting of the poll becomes imperative in view of the intra party battles that characterised the contest, which left no ample time for candidates to sell their manifestoes to the electorate.
Adeoye is of the opinion that the electorates would have so much to lose under the present arrangement as there is no clear cut promise from the candidates to galvanise a principled stance among the voters.
No less than twenty political parties have already signified interest in the postponement of the Saturday election, raising suspicion that there could be a stiff reaction to the action, should the election umpire go ahead with its plan.
“We are all aware of what happened during the last INEC conducted election in Edo State, where election was said to have been postponed as a result of perceived security threat. It beats one hollow that the same INEC has kept sealed lips on the Ondo election up till now. The silence, to us in ORM, is evil and should be discouraged.
“Those with sense of history should know the sensitivity of Ondo State and their kind of politics. Ondo State is strategic and very sensitive when it comes to responses to political issues. This is why the INEC must tread with caution and do the needful in this case,” Adeoye said
ORM therefore recommends a three week extension of the election to INEC, to allow candidates do a proper campaign for the electorates to be in proper spirit to decide who should call the shot for them.
“As we speak, the case between Jimoh Ibrahim and Eyitayo Jegede, of the Peoples Democratic Party, is just forming shape after a legal abracadabra deliberately designed to usurp the earlier endorsed candidate by those who are specialists in the art of cutting corners. It will be funny to think that the people are not aware of the subterranean intrigues and would react at the appropriate time.
“Out of the three major parties that are in the race, none can be said to have gotten enough time to sell itself to the electorate. Campaign is germane to elections and when the time for doing this is not enough, the best thing to do is to postpone such election as the consequence of a rushed election is always very grave,” ORM stressed.