By Our Reporter 

The Joint Action Council for Democratic Governance (JACODEG) has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), does not undermine democracy during the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024.

In a statement issued in Akure on Friday, JACODEG expressed concerns over alleged acts of violence and intimidation being orchestrated by the APC ahead of the election.

The group accused the ruling party of deploying thugs and engaging in tactics aimed at coercing voters and suppressing opposition.

Dennis Okparaocha, the Executive Director of JACODEG, revealed that the group’s preliminary findings indicated that the APC had imported thugs into the state, reportedly led by a prominent transport union leader from Lagos.

He alleged that these thugs had already carried out attacks on innocent residents and opposition members in areas such as Idanre and other parts of the state.

Okparaocha urged President Tinubu to intervene, warning that his silence on these actions could tarnish his reputation as a democrat.

The statement likened the current situation to past instances where democratic values were undermined, particularly referencing events in Edo State.

“We know President Tinubu to be a democrat.

“However, his siddon look approach to the shenanigans carried out in Edo State is now suggesting that he is not different from past presidents who jettisoned democratic values for their win-at-all-cost tendencies. We urge the President to call his party to order in Ondo or risk allowing it to destroy democracy,” the statement read.

JACODEG also called on the international community, including the European Union and other democratic stakeholders, to closely monitor the Ondo election.

The group said the actions of the APC in this election should serve as a litmus test for future engagements with the Tinubu-led federal government.

The group further alleged that the APC was planning to influence the election through vote-buying, a practice commonly referred to as “Dibo ko sebe,” which it claimed had been employed in the state since 2016.

Okparaocha concluded by emphasising the need for fairness, urging all parties to uphold democratic principles and calling for vigilance to ensure the election reflects the will of the people.