By Jubril Bada

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has dismissed allegations that the Minister of Interior, Mr Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, is involved in mobilising officers from the Nigeria Immigration Service, Customs, and the Nigeria Correctional Service to participate in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The party also labelled claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding threats to a peaceful election as unfounded and purely imaginary.

This was contained in a statement issued by the APC’s State Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Steve Otaloro, in response to various accusations made by the PDP during a briefing held by Dr Eddy Olafeso, Chairman of the Ondo PDP 2024 Governorship Campaign Council, in Akure.

The PDP had alleged that the APC was plotting to undermine the integrity of the election, citing an unprovoked attack by an APC thug in Idanre Local Government. The individual, identified as Oyewole Aderemi, also known as Gulder, was accused of leading a group of thugs armed with guns and machetes to attack PDP supporters.

According to Olafeso, such acts by APC members represent clear breaches of the Peace Accord signed by all political parties contesting Saturday’s election.

Responding, Otaloro criticised the PDP’s sudden alarm over violence, describing it as a desperate attempt to deflect from their anticipated defeat.

“They were intimidated by the overwhelming turnout at our grand finale rally, which saw the presence of the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

“The APC strongly condemns any form of violence, especially in an election we are poised to win, considering the substantial support our candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has garnered.

“The claim that an APC member was involved in thuggery to attack PDP members in Idanre is a fabricated story designed to tarnish our party’s reputation,” the statement read.