There were reports of gunshots in Ofosun Village, an Ondo community near the boundary with Edo State, causing panic among residents.
The incident, which occurred early in the morning, forced many villagers to remain indoors to avoid potential harm.
A local source, identified as Dauda, told our correspondent over the phone, “We don’t know who they are, but they were firing gunshots into the air in some parts of the village since early morning. Ofosun is an Ondo village close to Benin in Edo State. No casualty but people in the village are staying indoor.”
The cause of the incident remains unclear. However, Festus Akingbaso, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party raised concerns over alleged infiltration of hoodlums into villages in Idanre Local Government Area.
Speaking after casting his vote at Imikan Ward 02, Unit 008, Akingbaso commended INEC for the timely arrival of voting materials but alleged disruptions in some areas.
“Information reaching me is that majority of the villages are filled with thugs allegedly brought in by the APC. At the moment, all the villages are occupied with thugs. Villages like Ofosun, Omifunfun, and Allah are occupied,” Akingbaso claimed.
He further alleged, “There is a place called Igbepo where suspected thugs are in their numbers in Idanre local government area. An incident happened in Ofosun where suspected thugs broke into the house of a party member to prevent him from voting. We were informed that there are plans not to allow people in the villages to vote.”
Akingbaso stated that he had reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer and the Department of State Services but expressed disappointment over the lack of action.
“To my expectation, the security agencies have not been able to do anything,” he said.
When contacted, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Funmi Odunlami, said she was in transit and had not received any report of the incident.
Reacting to the allegations, the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Mr. Steve Otaloro, dismissed any involvement by his party and called for a thorough investigation.
“I am in the situation room of APC right now. Let me say first and foremost, the person you mentioned is the deputy governorship candidate of Agboola Ajayi of the PDP. And if you recall, PDP had a press conference two days ago alleging the kind of violence that happened in that place was by APC,” Otaloro said.
He questioned the validity of Akingbaso’s claims, saying, “All the places he mentioned, was he on ground in all those places? He was supposed to be at his own polling unit. Even if he was called, he should have done proper diligence to be on ground. They told us there was nothing like that. Voting is going on orderly. If they have any issue with that, they just want to create an issue out of nothing.”
Otaloro further defended the APC, stating, “As I speak, no member of our political party is going out to vote as a member; everybody has become an electorate. Whatever violence that is happening, they should investigate it properly, but I can assure you it is not from our members. How will you infiltrate all those local areas? These are routes, farm settlements. Why will our members infiltrate such places? That is not true.”
He concluded by urging peace, adding, “Often than not, maybe their plans were bursted, that was why he is coming up with this allegation. And since morning, this election has started peacefully, they should allow it end peacefully. We, as a political party, are committed to peace, and we have told our people to allow peace to reign in all their activities in the course of this election.”
