LP kicks as Ondo ACN alleges plans to recruit fake corps members

The House of Representatives candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Ondo State, yesterday accused the Labour Party (LP) of planning to recruit fake corps members as presiding officers and poll clerks to manipulate results in the constituency.

Adekanmbi made the allegations at a press conference in Owo. He alleged that the LP was stockpiling arms and had sewn fake police uniforms ahead of the elections.

Adekanmbi alleged that thugs, sponsored by LP, were terrorising ACN members in Owo and Ose.

He said: “We want to use this medium to alert the public about the plan of the LP government to unleash terror in Owo and Ose local governments. The party has stock-piled arms and ammunition in Owo to be distributed to their loyalists to unleash terror on voters during the election.

“We have also discovered a plan by the LP government to release half of the allocated ballot papers to each unit. This they have done in connivance with some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff. The remaining half of the ballot papers will be thumbprinted in their houses and later added to the election result.

“We assure the people that we will frustrate all evil plans to rig the elections.”

LP Publicity Secretary Femi Okunjemiruwa debunked the allegations.

He said the recruitment of electoral officers was the responsibility of INEC.

Okunjemiruwa said: “The allegations of the ACN are false. If they are sure of their allegations, they should take the police to the place where the arms are stored.

“Their accusations are mere propaganda calculated at portraying the LP in bad light. We are committed to the conduct of credible polls.”

LP Chairman Dr. Olaiya Oni dissociated the party from violence.

Oni said: “In the last few days, we have been showcasing our candidates through issue-based campaigns devoid of violence. In fact, we have had to share our time between campaigning and commissioning completed projects of Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration. We have no time left to conceive, let alone execute violence.

“We have delivered more than 300 community projects. Our achievements speak for us; we need no violence to defeat the opposition.”