The Peoples Democratic Party National Youth Frontiers (PDPNYF), political youth group of PDP has raised alarm over an alleged plot by the presidency in connivance with some senior officials within the Independent National Electoral Commission to interfere and manipulate the results of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo state in favour of the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Barrister Rotimi Akeredolu SAN.

The group fingered a National Commissioner of INEC, as the arrow-head of the alleged plot.
The National Coordinator of PDPNYF, Comrade Austin Okai, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja, alleged that the whole plot was championed by some powerful government officials within the Presidency.

Comrade Okai alleged that the devilish scheme was hatched and concluded on Monday night in the residence of a serving minister, who is also a former Governor of a state in the Southwest.

He further alleged that a whopping N25billion has been set aside by the conspirators to ensure that the APC candidate is declared winner at all cost.

He said: “There is nothing hidden under the Sun! They thought that they can manipulate the wish of Ondo people, they believed that what happened in Edo about a month ago can be repeated in Ondo state. Unfortunately for them, we have our informant that is within their midst. We shall resist them this time.

“I can confirm to you that already results have been written even though election is yet to be commenced. Some senior officers of the Police and detectives of DSS have been mandated to arrest some of our party leaders and chieftains on the day of the election, scripts have been given to selected staffs of INEC at the collation centres in all Local Government areas in Ondo state, and money has been flown to Akure for onward distribution to some stakeholders”.

“What was Amina Zakari doing in Edo state during that election? She was neither the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo state nor the Returning Officer in the said election, but she was everywhere moving about even when the Electoral Act and INEC procedure doesn’t allow movement”.

“You may recall that Amina Zakari was in Rivers state during the rerun election which was declared inconclusive. Mrs Amina Zakari was in Bayelsa state gubernatorial election, which was as if the whole country was at war. Mrs Amina was in Edo state that churned out one of the worst election in African history. What is her value of her presence during election other than to cause trouble? In the interest of our democracy, she should not be in voting areas; we have REC in every state to supervise the activities of INEC. Aisha has no business in Ondo state”.

“We are ready for Amina Zakari and her conspirators this time around. It is in her own good not to test the will of the people of Ondo state because we are determined to halt her evil scheme using every legitimate means. Mrs Amina is not a politician; she should desist from interfering in this Ondo election. We are not sleeping this time; the will of the electorate must stand”.

“It is a shame that while our candidate, who was illegally substituted by INEC in favour of a non party man was pursuing his legitimate mandate in court, which he secured, INEC officers, APC and the Presidency are already plotting plan B to scuttle the Ondo people mandate.”

Comrade Okai further stated that the PDP candidate Barrister Eyitayo Jegede SAN is in high spirit and confident of victory.

He however insisted that INEC officials, from the polling units to the collation centres must remain neutral and ensure that only the will of the people prevail.  He appealed to the electorate to remain at their respective polling units after casting their votes, and ensure that their vote is protected.

“We will monitor and take stock of every event from casting of ballot to collation of result to ensure that we truncate the evil plot of the APC. We appeal to electorates to ensure that they remain at their units and monitor the votes after casting the ballot,” Okai said.

Comrade Okai, on behalf of PDPNYF congratulated members and supporters of the PDP on the victory of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led leadership and Barrister Eyitayo Jegede at the Court of Appeal and admonished them not to get carried away with the euphoria of victory.

“As a youth group we are happy over the well-deserved victory of our legitimate party organ and our governorship candidate in Ondo state at the Court of Appeal today. It is a great and long legal battle that has been well fought. We congratulate our leader His Excellency Senator Ahmed Makarfi and his Caretaker Committee team, we congratulate Barrister Eyotayo Jegede and the Ondo state PDP Chapter.

“However, our party men and women should not get carried away by the deserved victory today, because our adversaries are not sleeping, they will still try another means to truncate our joy, but they will fail. We must be at alert,” concluded.