By Ezra Ukanwa

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Ondo State Chapter has frowned at the display of violence and destruction of billboards in Ondo State among alleged aspirants of the ruling party, All Progressive Congress, APC.

This was contained in a statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary, NNPP, Comrade Wasiu Sanusi, on Thursday, which said the unwarranted activities went on even when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in the State on condolence visit in respect of Late Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu.

According to him, the show of shame among the Ondo State APC members should have been ordinarily ignored by the NNPP but the need to urgently address it, becomes sacrosanct due to the potential implications it portends ahead of the 2024 Governorship election.

The statement added: “It is now crystal clear that the protracted internal crisis rocking the ruling party in Ondo State is fast degenerating into physical combat which will greatly affect the innocent indigenes of the State, since Governorship aspirants under the APC have shown total disdain to democratic ideals.

“Similarly, it baffles us that despite failing to deliver its electoral promises to the people of the state, the ruling party is now responsible in shortchanging the people of their peace.

“The NNPP is committed to peaceful electioneering; as such we call on the ruling party to withdraw from the forthcoming election if they cannot desist from violence, which has become their trademark. It is unimaginable that a self-acclaimed progressive political party can engage in fierce violence and destruction of bill boards among themselves even when the stage has not been fully set for the election.

“One would be forced to ask, what will be the fate of the opposition parties, once electoral campaign beckons.”

He, however, called on the security operatives in Ondo State to call the ruling party to order before they finally set the state on fire.

He also called on “the good people of Ondo State to continue to keep faith with us, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) which has now become the best alternative to unseat the All Progressive Congress (APC) and her present Government, whose leadership has brought untold suffering to the majority of people of the state.”