Press Sratemenr: e are in possession of reliable reports of political thugs mobilised by the All Progressive Congress (APC) now arriving various parts of Osun state. In a countdown to the election day on Saturday, Osun state is witnessing influx of armed men and women whose sole goal is to violently disrupt peaceful conduct of the election.
It is already in public domain that thugs imported from Lagos are already lodged at various hotels in Osun state including Blue Petals Hotels very close to the seat of government at Abere. We have reports that such daredevil hands have been deployed to various zones including Iwo zone where a PDP party agent was shot at and Osogbo axis where the residence of the governorship candidate of Labour Party was attacked. The increasing number of attacks and the unchecked activities of thugs across the state pose serious danger to the peaceful conduct of Saturday elections.
We particularly charge the newly deployed Police Election Commissioner and the Deputy Inspector General’s of Police posted to Osun state to take judicious note and urgently act to arrest the situation. The security agencies should not wait until citizens resort to self help before the menace of party thugs is nipped in the bud.
We repeat the call of our governorship candidate for an urgent review of security architecture for the election. We call on the security agencies to conduct security audit and mapping of the state before Saturday elections. If various appeals from well meaning stakeholders are not acted upon, the authorities should be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Osun state.
We however appeal to Osun voters never to be intimidated. We must reject violence and intimidation by trooping out enmasse to cast our votes for PDP on Saturday. Our votes will and must count on Saturday.
Signed
Dr. Akindele Adekunle,
Chairman CTC,
Peoples Democratic Party,
Osun State Chapter.
