BY DAYO JOHNSON
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State would be free and fair and an appreciable improvement on that of Edo State.

He spoke through his Vice, Namadi Sambo in Akure during a Mega rally tagged: Redemption Rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The rally was however disrupted for about one hour following a heavy downpour which shook the rostrum and the canopies. But despite the downpour, supporters of the party in their hundreds dared the rain and remained on the spot singing praises of the party governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo raising the hand of Ondo state PDP governorship candidate, Olusola Oke at a rally in Ondo yesterday.

President Jonathan said:  “The Ondo governorship election will be free and fair, its going to be one man one vote. Adequate security will be provided during the election. We want everyone to be orderly during the election”

The President appealed to the people of the state vote en mass for the PDP governorship candidate in the election.

PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamaga Tukur, described the people of Ondo State as fighters and asked them to fight for their rights on October 20.

Minister of Police Affair Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade Rtd, said that security that would be deployed to the state would be more than those deployed to Edo State and assured the electorate of adequate security during the polls.

Immediate past governor Dr Olusegun Agagu said that the coming back of PDP in the state will be the beginning of a new dawn.

Agagu said that Olusola Oke will bring development in all the sectors that are begging for attention. He regretted that the present administration had abandoned many of the projects he initiated and almost completed before he was sacked by the Court of Appeal.

Other speakers, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, Chairman of the party in the South West, Segun Oni, National Secretary of the party Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the governorship candidate of the party Olusola Oke were optimistic that the party will win the election if free and fair.

Kuku said that the presence of the Vice President at the rally is an endorsement of Oke by President Jonathan.

He asked the people to come out en mass and cast their vote for a change adding that they should also defend their votes against been hijacked by the other parties.

The Director General of Oke Campaign Organization, Dr Dare Bada said the presence of national leaders of the PDP and the Presidency showed that the party in the state is not an orphan as being speculated in some quarters.

Two members, Senator Hosea Ehinlanwo and Akin Akingbesote a former commissioner in the state returned to the party during the rally. Meanwhile reacting to the PDP rally, the Mimiko Campaign Organisation (MCO) “thanked the Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo for reiterating the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure a free and fair election in the State

Also Present at the rally were former Minister of Aviation and now national woman leader of the party Kema Chikwe, former national chairman of the party Sule Baraje, Communication Minister Omobolanle Johnson, serving senators, former public office holders in the state and chieftains of the party.

The MCO’s Director of Publicity and Media Relations, Mr Kolawole Olabisi “We are grateful that Mr Vice President today at the rally of his party re-assured Nigerians that there will be level playing ground in Ondo State. That the election would be on the basis of one man, one vote and in a secured environment too; this is what we require.”