Ondo Poll Must Reflect Will Of Voters, Buhari Tells APC, Akeredolu

– Backs Gov’s Re-election Bid

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for a peaceful, free and fair governorship poll to be conducted in Ondo State on October 4.

He said the result of the election must reflect the will of the people of the state, advising all shareholders to play by the rules set by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Buhari spoke in Abuja on Friday when he received the Ondo state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, at the Presidential Villa.

Akeredolu was led on the visit by the National Caretaker Chairman/Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, and other senior party officials.

At the event, Buhari formally presented the APC’s flag to Akeredolu, asking him to go and contest, win fairly.

The President said he was happy that the cracks in the party in the state had been patched, calling on all of them to team up and return Akeredolu for a second term.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, wrote, “While assuring Akeredolu of the party’s full support, the President said a peaceful and fair election that reflects the will of the people should be upper most, urging adherence to the regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission and protocols of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

“President Buhari noted that the party’s mechanism for resolving differences was most effective, and would be sustained to strengthen relationships, and project the objectives of the party as people-focused and development oriented.”

Ondo and Edo are the centres of attention in the country right now, as both states will elect their governors within the next four to five weeks.

There have been concerns over the piling up of arms by political camps of the APC and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party. They are the key contenders.

There are fears that the poll may be marred by violence, seeing the desperation displayed by the camps in the two states so far.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, already instructed the commissioners of police in the respective states to mop up the illegal arms immediately and to introduce security measures to put potential troublemakers in check.