By Jubril Bada

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has described the allegations leveled against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa by the Young Progressives Party (YPP) regarding the arrest of protesters in Akure as baseless and mischievous.

The party, which said its attention had been drawn to the allegations against Aiyedatiwa, denied the claims of human rights abuse and draconian actions made against the Governor.

This was contained in a statement signed  by the State Director of Media and Publicity of the APC, Mr. Steve Otaloro, in response to the statement from the YPP accusing Aiyedatiwa of ordering the arrest of protesters of #EndBadGovernance in Akure, the state capital.

The Director General of the Akinmurele/Obe Ondo 2024 Governorship Campaign Council, Comrade Ayodeji Oluleye of the YPP, had accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of ordering the arrest of the protesters, describing it as a flagrant abuse of fundamental human rights and a violation of democratic principles.

The statement by the APC read: “We categorically deny the claims of human rights abuse and draconian actions made against the Governor. The protesters could not have been peaceful, as claimed, but were instead disrupting public order and violating the rights of other citizens of Ondo State who chose not to participate in any protest.

“The Governor prioritizes the safety and security of all residents, and the actions taken were necessary to maintain law and order.

“We stand by the actions of the security operatives, who acted professionally to restore normalcy.

“We urge the YPP to desist from spreading falsehoods and inciting violence. We also call on the general public to disregard the threats of mass action, as they are mere political gimmicks.

“The APC and Governor Aiyedatiwa remain committed to upholding democratic principles and protecting the rights of all citizens.”