The governorship candidate of African Democratic Party in Ogun State, Barr Biyi Otegbeye has ridiculed the duo of Governor Dapo Abiodun, Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Hon. Ladi Adebutu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for competing in the gale of endorsements.
The ADC governorship candidate reacted to gale of endorsement that has dominated the news space in the last one weeks, saying it’s a mere election psychological booster as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) does not recognise “endorsement”.
Biyi Otegbeye made this comment while answeing questions from journalists who thronged his Abeokuta residence friday evening.
He said the electorate in Ogun State should ignore the endorsement buzz as it’s either procured by inducement, threat, or cash.
“We have heard how the government (Abiodun’s) had gathered the Obas together and threatened, offered cash and other inducements, even at gunpoint.
“It’s a calculated attempt to win the election that is already lost. We have seen where the governor was distributing white envelopes containing N2k, N3k or N5k during rallies to buy the conscience of the voters. But this cannot help him (Gov. Abiodun). He has lost his credibility. He has no integrity. The people of Ogun State have rejected him. In each ward we have visited we hear the pains and groans of the people.
“They said the governor starved them during Covid-19 lockdown. He was distributing Indomies and locked up other palliative materials in various warehouses in the State. Huge percentage of those undistributed palliative consumer goods rottened in those warehouses and the wicked government destroyed those food items that they ought to distributed to the people in the first place,” Otegbeye explained.
He said the postponement of governorship and House of Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to March 18, was legitimate because it would allow the electoral body to reformat, its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for better poll.
He added that it would only give him the opportunity to take his campaign train and messages to the remaining 46 wards out of the 236 wards in the state, saying he had covered 190 wards.
He further posited that the postponement of the elections by INEC, though was not convenient because it would mean more money, more campaign rallies and stops here and there, but was done to avoid errors from the BVAS and ensure Nigerians have a free, fair and credible conduct of the Governorship and State House of Assembly polls on March 18.
He said: “For me, INEC did not just do this overnight; this was a fall out of the court case about reformating the BVAS in readiness of the election. And INEC said they have 176,974,000 or 197 000 BVAS and it would take it time to reformat the BVAS and that makes a lot of sense and what can you do about that.
“So the reason for postponement is legitimate and to an extent that is what they want to achieve, when you have a legitimate thing for good you just have to abide with it and respect it. Is it convenient, of course, you will need to work more; you will need to spend more. Of course, those inconveniences are there.”
The governorship candidate, who said he would campaign till the last day that INEC permits, reiterated that he’s in the race to save the people from the hardship that the All Progressives Congress (APC)- led government of Dapo Abiodun has unleashed on them.
Otegbeye posited that Governor Abiodun’s over the three and half years administration has failed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
He appealed to the electorate to vote for him (Otegbeye) and other candidates of ADCin the forthcoming elections in order to have a new Ogun State.
“Yes! I am in this election to win it and thankfully the people of Ogun State are united on one thing that the present administration has not benefited them.
“We have visited 190 wards out of the 236 wards and with this extension I still intend to cover them so as to continue to sell our agenda to the electorate in Ogun State and I believe the people have received our agenda and they will vote for ADC enmass,” he added.
He said: “For me, INEC did not just do this overnight; this was a fall out of the court case about reformating the BVAS in readiness of the election. And INEC said they have 176,974,000 or 197 000 BVAS and it would take it time to reformat the BVAS and that makes a lot of sense and what can you do about that.
“So the reason for postponement is legitimate and to an extent that is what they want to achieve, when you have a legitimate thing for good you just have to abide with it and respect it. Is it convenient, of course, you will need to work more; you will need to spend more. Of course, those inconveniences are there.”
The governorship candidate, who said he would campaign till the last day that INEC permits, reiterated that he’s in the race to save the people from the hardship that the All Progressives Congress (APC)- led government of Dapo Abiodun has unleashed on them.
Otegbeye posited that Governor Abiodun’s over the three and half years administration has failed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
He appealed to the electorate to vote for him (Otegbeye) and other candidates of ADCin the forthcoming elections in order to have a new Ogun State.
“Yes! I am in this election to win it and thankfully the people of Ogun State are united on one thing that the present administration has not benefited them.
“We have visited 190 wards out of the 236 wards and with this extension I still intend to cover them so as to continue to sell our agenda to the electorate in Ogun State and I believe the people have received our agenda and they will vote for ADC enmass,” he added.
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