Posted by By Ola Ajayi on
EVIDENCE that today's elections may not be free and fair emerged yesterday as an undisclosed number of ballot boxes were reportedly found in the home of a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) at Odo Ona-Elewe, Ibadan.
EVIDENCE that today's elections may not be free and fair emerged yesterday as an undisclosed number of ballot boxes were reportedly found in the home of a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) at Odo Ona-Elewe, Ibadan.
Saturday Vanguard gathered that men of the State Security Service (SSS) who were given a tip off, swooped on the home of the PDP member. After the SSS conducted a search in the house, it was gathered that ballot boxes were discovered in one of the rooms.
This seemed to confirm the allegations that voting had been going on in the house of a notable PDP chieftain in the city since Wednesday.
When contacted, the State Director of SSS, Mr. Adebayo Babalola, said he had not been briefed about the issue.
Also, the Public Relations Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Ayodele Folami, as at press time could not confirm the story.
He assured that the commission would not hesitate to act on any useful information from members of the public 'on illegal movement of sensitive election materials".
Meanwhile, the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has called on the residents of the state not to be intimidated by the activities of some hoodlums in the city.
His words: 'I have held security meetings with all the security officers in the state and will therefore like to assure you all that all security agents including the military men are already deployed to all nooks and crannies of the state to ensure that you exercise your voting rights and that lives and property are well protected before, during and after the elections."
'My people of Oyo State, the time of decision has come. It is only once in four years. Do not allow fear or intimidation from any group of people to prevent you from carrying out your civic responsibility. Exercise your rights and ensure that you come out to vote on Saturday."
'Ensure that you go out and vote. This is the only way you can have a government of your choice and to make your vote effective, please ensure that you follow the procedure and laid down rules and regulations as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)", the governor concluded.