Politics
PDP vs APC: N22.5B Currency Exchange Allegation Dispute
The PDP has accused the APC and its presidential candidate Bola Tinubu of intending to exchange N22.5 billion worth of old currency notes for new ones in Kano State.
Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, said in a statement that the exchange of N22.5 billion in old naira notes for new ones in Kano State is a desperate effort by the APC to carry out vote-buying during the elections.
Ologunagba added that information obtained by the PDP suggests that the APC, which is responsible for the current cash shortage, is coordinating the exchange in the North West region of the country with the help of two APC governors who have publicly expressed their concern about the cash crunch.
Furthermore, the PDP has alleged that there is evidence that the APC has made arrangements to move a significant portion of the old naira notes from Kano to Lagos State in the coming days to exchange them for new notes.
“The PDP has been made aware that the N22.5 billion in old N1000 notes was allegedly kept in a Kano State Government facility before being moved to a particular old generation and a certain new generation bank, where the regional heads were contacted by the APC Presidential Campaign to swap the old notes with new ones.
“Further information revealed that the cash is being warehoused by the Tinubu Campaign for vote buying in Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Jigawa and Sokoto States. A particular APC State governor is reported to have taken delivery of N500 million new Naira notes to actualise the vote buying plot,” Ologunagba said.
The PDP has warned security agencies and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) about this harmful activity by the APC leaders, which it claims is causing difficulty for the Nigerian people.
Ologunagba added: “Our party demands an immediate action to stop APC in this criminal act as well as to recover the money and make the new Naira notes available to the public.”
However, the APC PCC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, responded to the PDP’s claims by saying that simply making baseless accusations in press releases is not enough. He challenged the PDP to provide evidence for their claims and stated that making unfounded allegations has become a regular occurrence in the PDP’s campaign strategy.
Onanuga noted: “Let them provide the evidence if they uncovered such. It is not enough to dish out cock and bull stories in the name of press releases. Making senseless allegations every passing day, which has become the hallmark of PDP campaign is not how to win election.
“Nigerians cannot be deceived by a party of looters. Nigerians can’t forget a party of people that looted over $2 billion dollars meant for arms procurement, when Boko Haram was killing our citizens and almost took over three states in the north east.
“We challenge PDP to bring out any evidence of their latest allegation otherwise the party of looters should hide its ugly face in perpetual shame.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of spending over N35 billion to induce voters in the recently concluded Ondo State governorship election.
The accusation came shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC’s candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the winner.
At precisely 2:29 pm on Saturday, INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi, announced Aiyedatiwa’s victory, with the incumbent securing 366,781 votes.
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His closest rival, PDP’s Agboola Ajayi, garnered 117,845 votes, while Adeyemi Nejo of the African Democratic Party placed third with 4,138 votes.
In a press statement following the announcement, Olaniyi Ogungbuji, the PDP State Collation Agent, criticized the APC’s campaign methods, alleging widespread vote-buying.
“This is the end result of the election, but I can tell you that APC as a party deployed over N35bn into inducing the electorate. If this is the future of this nation, we are doomed for it,” Ogungbuji said.
Ogungbuji also raised concerns about the failure of elections to take place in certain polling units in Idanre Local Government Area.
However, these concerns were dismissed during the collation process. The PDP agent hinted that the party and Ajayi would deliberate on the next steps in the coming days.
Meanwhile, APC’s State Agent, Ade Adeogun, strongly rejected the PDP’s accusations, labeling them as unfounded and an attempt to explain away their electoral loss.
“You need to understand that throughout this electioneering period, we even complained that Ondo State was over-policed. If they had any genuine evidence, they should have reported it to the security agencies. Those involved in vote buying would have been arrested,” Adeogun stated.
He also dismissed the allegations as “flippant excuses,” emphasizing that elections should be won based on merit, not claims without proof.
“Without evidence, you can’t just go around and make flippant excuses,” he said. “They lost woefully, and they’re looking for a straw to hold onto.”
Adeogun further stated that the PDP’s complaints were simply a result of their defeat, adding, “Let them weep; they lost woefully. They didn’t deserve to win.”
As tensions continue to simmer, both parties remain locked in a bitter dispute over the results of the Ondo governorship election, with the PDP considering legal action in the days to come.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Ondo State governorship election held on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
Aiyedatiwa secured a decisive victory, polling 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes.
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The APC swept all 18 local government areas of the state in a dominant performance that underscored its stronghold in Ondo.
The results were announced at INEC’s State Headquarters in Akure by the collation officer, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi.
“Having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC is hereby declared the winner of the Ondo State governorship election,” Prof. Akinwunmi stated.
Breakdown of Results by Local Government Areas:
1. Akure North: APC 14,451 | PDP 5,787
2. Akure South: APC 32,969 | PDP 17,926
3. Okitipupa: APC 26,811 | PDP 10,233
4. Ose: APC 16,555 | PDP 4,472
5. Owo: APC 31,914 | PDP 4,740
6. Akoko Northeast: APC 25,657 | PDP 5,072
7. Akoko Northwest: APC 25,010 | PDP 5,502
8. Akoko Southeast: APC 12,140 | PDP 2,692
9. Akoko Southwest: APC 29,700 | PDP 5,517
10. Ondo West: APC 20,755 | PDP 6,387
11. Ondo East: APC 8,163 | PDP 2,843
12. Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo: APC 16,600 | PDP 4,442
13. Idanre: APC 9,114 | PDP 8,940
14. Irele: APC 17,117 | PDP 6,601
15. Ifedore: APC 14,157 | PDP 5,897
16. Ilaje: APC 24,474 | PDP 3,623 | LP 176
17. Ese Odo: APC 14,511 | PDP 7,814
18. Odigbo: APC 26,683 | PDP 9,348
The Labour Party (LP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) trailed far behind, with LP securing 1,162 votes and ZLP 2,692 votes across the state.
Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory cements the APC’s grip on Ondo State politics.
The governor-elect has promised to focus on economic development, improved infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
“This victory is not just for the APC but for every citizen of Ondo State. Together, we will build a brighter future,” Aiyedatiwa said in his acceptance speech.
The election, which was monitored by domestic and international observers, was largely peaceful, with only minor logistical challenges reported.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has swept all 18 local government areas in the Ondo State Governorship Election, maintaining a significant lead over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resumed collation of results after a recess to allow the arrival of results from the remaining local governments, Ilaje and Ese Odo.
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Collation Officer Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi explained, “I think we can just adjourn till 12 noon please. Two remaining local governments are not here yet, so we adjourn till 12 noon. The local governments, Ilaje and Ese Odo, are very far, so we need to give them time to arrive.”
While APC recorded victories across all announced results, the collation process faced a brief dispute in Idanre Local Government.
The PDP’s agent alleged issues of vote-buying, ballot box snatching, and the absence of elections in some areas.
He urged the returning officer to reject the results from Idanre, but no resolution was immediately provided.
INEC National Commissioner Prof. Kunle Ajayi, speaking earlier in Akure, reassured citizens that the results would be concluded and announced without delay.
“I can assure you that until we declare the winner, we won’t leave here. We will wait until the last local government before we leave. I don’t have any fear that even by 6 am, maybe everything would have been over,” Prof. Ajayi stated.
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