ACN plans to hack into INEC voter register - Group allegesFEW days after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of what it described as 'massive and indiscriminate transfer of voters to the state,' a group, Citizens Concern Forum (CCF), has raised the alarm over the plan by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to hack into INEC voter register.According to a statement issued in Akure, on Sunday, signed by its vice-president, Bimbo Oyeleye, the forum said it had uncovered plans by the ACN to hack into the voter register and replace some names.'We wish to alert the public to the clandestine moves by the ACN to manipulate the October 20 gubernatorial election in Ondo State, with the connivance of some key officials of the electoral body,' the statement said.The group added that 'it has been discovered that the ACN has perfected its act to hack and find its way into the voter register and substitute names of registered voters in the state with those from neighbouring states.'The forum also said it had uncovered plan by the party to 'import' mercenaries to the state before the election day, to execute all its clandestine plans, adding that the mercenaries had been recruited and were expected to arrive a town outside Akure anytime soon.It, therefore, called on appropriate authorities to ensure the election was free and fair, adding that 'these evil seeds must not be allowed to germinate in the state.'Regional integration not for secession - AkeredoluTHE governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has said the regional integration policy of the party was meant to develop the South-West region and not a secession plan in any form.According to him, regional integration was an impetus necessary for the growth of the region.He said this on Sunday evening, while featuring in an interactive session organised for governorship candidates in the October 20 election, put together by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State council.He said it was necessary for the states in the region to come together under one umbrella, so as to drive the integration of the region.The ACN governorship candidate noted that growth and economic development could be easily achieved when the leadership of the states come together to collaborate on issues that would facilitate their advancement.Akeredolu said regional integration project was needed to boost the economic fortunes of the people of the South-West and a formidable platform to unite in the phase of the challenges facing the country.He, however, noted that the policy could be driven by governors from different political parties.'We can belong to different political parties to achieve regional integration, as long as you have the view of other governors in the region who believe in the concept.'Some people believe that the house (Nigeria) has fallen, others believe that it is falling. I belong to the second school of thought. Hence, we needed a platform that will unite us in case of any eventuality.'If the House wants to collapse, the South-West must stand, that is why every governor in the region must key in to the regional integration concept. Any governor who is not ready to embrace it in the region should give way,' he said.According to him, Ondo State, with its vast mineral resources, would benefit from the regional integration, as it would enable it to pool resources with others, in order to tackle developmental challenges.Be wary of foreign candidates - AkinyelurePEOPLE of Ondo State have been advised against voting for candidate who does not associate with the state.The senator representing Ondo Central senatorial district, Senator (Dr) Patrick Ayo Akinyelure, made the call on Sunday.According to Akinyelure, 'Ondo people are highly educated and, as a result, will never cast their votes for somebody who will be taking order from a godfather.'He stressed further that the era of godfatherism in politics was gone, adding that the people of the state did not deserve a governor whose associate would be imported from other states.'How can somebody who has not be living in the state before, who doesn't know the plight of his people, let alone knowing where the shoe itches say he want to be governor' Apart from this, the entire good people of Ondo State doesn't need a governor whose all his contractor, commissioners, special advisers and chief press secretary would be brought from another state,' he said.Akinyelure then urged the people to ensure the continuity of the government of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, by casting their votes for the Labour Party (LP) candidate during the October 20 election.While enumerating the achievements of Governor Mimiko, Senator Akinyelure said the governor had performed well.Group asks Akeredolu to withdraw from Ondo gov race 'I'm ready for probe - AkeredoluA non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Good Governance Monitor (GGM), has asked the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, to, within the next 14 days, withdraw from the governorship race on account of allegations bordering on abuse of office when he served as president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).The Abuja-based group, which released documents which allegedly indicted Akeredolu of abuse of office and mismanagement of funds during his tenure, said the governorship candidate had 14 days to withdraw from the race, on account of character flaws.The group said it relied on a letter of complaint written to Akeredolu by some of his colleagues in the NBA executive, when he served as president of the association.But, the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, in a statement on Saturday, accused the group of fighting a lost battle, adding that the governorship candidate was ready to defend his tenure as NBA president.In the statement, signed by its director of media, publicity and strategy, Idowu Ajanaku, the campaign organisation said Akeredolu was not guilty of the allegations.Besides, Akeredolu pledged to submit himself and his company, AKT Ventures, for probe by the security agencies.Ex-NDDC commissioner cautions electorateAS governorship election draws near in Ondo State, a former commissioner representing the state on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Benson Enikuemehin, has warned the electorate against activities of politicians with questionable characters.Enikuomehin, who made the plea while addressing Labour Party (LP) supporters at Obe-Enikanoselu in the coastal area of the state, however, urged them to support the second term bid of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.The former NDDC commissioner, who recently defected to LP from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, also advised the people not to allow what he described as 'money politics' to influence them to vote against candidate of their choice.According to him, record of achievements of Mimiko was unprecedented in the history of the state, charging the people to support him for a return to office.Enikuomehin said majority of the NDDC projects in the coastal area of the state were facilitated by Mimiko, who also ensured that none of the projects meant for the state was diverted to neighbouring state.He appealed to the people not to be distracted by the activities Mimiko's political detractors who, according to him, falsify and fabricate lies on daily basis to put a dent on his good image.The NDDC commissioner also said the Mimiko-led administration had put in place necessary measures and programmes that would enhance the socio-economy of the people and the rapid development of the coastal area of the state.Campaigns: Group tasks Mimiko, Akeredolu, OkeAS preparations for the October 20 gubernatorial poll in Ondo State heightens, a non-governmental organisation, Centre for Human Rights and Ethics in Development (CHRED), has charged all political parties and their candidates to make their campaigns issues-based and eschew provocative utterances, capable of promoting violence.The group underscored the crucial need for all the governorship candidates, including the incumbent state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who is seeking re-election on the ticket of the Labour Party [LP], Mr Rotimi Akeredolu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Chief Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], to give the electorate more information on challenges of development and other critical issues affecting the socio-economic growth of the state.In a statement signed by its executive director, Mashood Erubami, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, the group said 'political campaigns so far have been turbulent, given the clashes between supporters of rival political parties, allegation and counter-allegation.'While warning that threat of violence and growing anxiety were capable of shattering the peace of the state, CHRED implored the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] to improve on the success of the last governorship election in Edo State, by making the conduct of the poll in Ondo more credible to the stakeholders.
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