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The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Thursday that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is jittery ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.
The party, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, maintained that Aiyedatiwa has become panicky about losing the election.
Peretei said, “As the Ondo election approaches the Zero Hour, those who said the election was a walkover for them have been unable to get sound sleep, slipping into a ‘Panic Mode.'”
“A good number of them, who initially proclaimed that they are ‘Lucky,’ are singing a new song based on the realities they encountered on the field.”
“The comfort of their offices, from where they made the proclamation of being ‘Lucky,’ is the exact opposite of the streets where hunger and lack walk on all fours.”
Peretei added, “The electorate sent the signal wherever the campaign train of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa visited that there is pain in the land, orchestrated by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aiyedatiwa’s party.”
“In their confusion, the National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, in one breath, said the Edo ‘Template’ will be applied in Ondo State. In another, he said the APC does not need to rig the Ondo election to win.”
“This was the first sign that the APC national leadership has come to terms with the reality that nobody can rig the November 16 election and that they are not as lucky as they had previously assumed.”
“Having failed to convince the people why they should trust him with their mandate, some panicky measures were taken.
“Because they were not all well thought out, they all fell flat on their backs. The 416 political appointees, carefully selected from the 203 Electoral Wards, were shocked to discover that, for the month of October 2024, they received no salary alert.
“What is the guarantee that, after losing the election in November, they will be paid? Are these not the same people shouting they are ‘Lucky’? They should know better by now.”
According to Peretei, “When the alarm that the N73,000.00 minimum wage announced at a campaign rally was another promise that would never be met, some people dismissed it.
“Those workers who went to endorse the governor for another term should ask themselves again if indeed they have been ‘Lucky’ with this governor.
“After spending ten months in the saddle, it is his programmes and projects that should have done the campaigns for Governor Aiyedatiwa. Instead, he is recruiting propagandists to lie to the Ondo State people, as if we are blind and deaf.
“Out of fear of losing the election, the Commandant of Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, was draughted to head a 25-member Security Committee of the Campaigns.”
” Instead of apologising to the people, the spokesman of the Aiyedatiwa Campaign denied that such was ever proposed. How can anybody trust people who lie so shamelessly in this manner?
“Those who think Ondo State is lucky with this kind of administration should pinch themselves to be sure that they are not dreaming.
While reacting to the PDP claim, the spokesperson of the APC, Steve Otaloro, said, “The PDP statement claiming the APC is slipping into panic mode is quite amusing.
“It’s clear they’re trying to deflect attention from their own struggles. After all, it’s the PDP that’s losing bigwigs to the APC, like Hon. Adelaja and the entire structure of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who all ditched them for our party a few months ago.
“And let’s not forget, former member of the House of Representatives, Kolade Akinjo, also resigned from the PDP recently and joined the APC.
“Instead of focusing on their own weaknesses, the PDP is trying to spin a narrative of panic within the APC. But the facts on the ground tell a different story.
“Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s campaign train has been well-received across the state, and our party remains confident in our vision for Ondo’s future.
“The APC remains united and focused on securing victory in the November 16 governorship election. We won’t be swayed by the PDP’s distractions. Bring on the facts, and let the people decide.
Otaloro asked the opposition party to stop its misguided campaign of attacks and deception.
“Instead of presenting a clear agenda for the people of Ondo State, the PDP has chosen to engage in baseless attacks and propaganda against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
” We urge the PDP to realise that criticising the good work of Governor Aiyedatiwa and denigrating the people of Ondo State will not win them the election.
“The people deserve to know what the PDP intends to do differently, not just empty rhetoric and false promises.”
“The people of Ondo State will not be swayed by the PDP’s desperate attempts to discredit Governor Aiyedatiwa. They will respond with their votes, choosing continuity and progress over misinformation and negativity.
“We urge the PDP to focus on issue-based campaigning, presenting their vision for the state’s future. The people deserve better than baseless attacks and propaganda,” Otaloro said
Otaloro, however, called on “the people of Ondo State to remain vigilant and discerning. Demand substance over propaganda.
“Let us focus on building a brighter future for our state, rather than getting bogged down in the PDP’s politics of division.
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