The All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo state has claimed to have uncovered alleged plans by Governor Seyi Makinde and the People’s Democratic Party to use the state-owned security outfit known as Amotekun Corps to forcefully secure victory for the candidates of the PDP this Saturday when Nigerians are expected to go to the poll.
Amotekun Corps, which is the uniformed local security outfit established to combat kidnapping and other related criminal activities in the South West in 2020, is under the control of state governors as chief security officers of their respective states with absolute power to deploy its personnel for duty and assignment.
In a statement issued on Thursday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC regretted that “some anti-democratic forces could still be nursing plans to compromise the smooth conduct of election in the country when all hands ought to be on deck for the collective goal of strengthening the nation’s democracy.
“We have uncovered plots by the Oyo state government and the ruling PDP to use members of the state-owned local security outfit popularly known as Amotekun Corps to alter all arrangements for the proper conduct of presidential and national assembly elections coming up this Saturday to facilitate victory for their candidates.
“Parts of the evil plans are the deployment of men in Amotekun uniform to frustrate genuine voters, particularly in certain areas across all geopolitical zones including Ibadan- the state capital. Those behind the plot have also perfected plans to involve hoodlums to be drawn from the Park Management System under the leadership of Mukaila Lamidi ‘Auxiliary’ in the execution of their plans.
“The regular Amotekun guards and many motor park miscreants are to adorn the local security outfit uniform brand which is expected to present them as officials legalized to move around on the day of the election and thus use the opportunity to carry out some illegal activities capable of disrupting the conduct of the poll. For instance, the fake uniformed men would storm some communities in rural Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun, Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Ibadan city in the guise of searching for suspected kidnappers on the eve of the election and thereby create tension among residents who might decide to stay indoors on Saturday.
“While we would not disclose the details of the plots being packaged by the identified disgruntled elements, we wish to remind the general public that Amotekun Corps are not among the security agents allowed to either election or provide security anywhere close to polling booths or collation centers on the day of the election. Therefore, we call on the appropriate authorities to ensure that no member of the Amotekun or PMS (in uniform) is granted access to anywhere close to INEC officials and that voters conduct their legitimate business on the day of the election.
“The position of the nation’s Constitution as advanced by the Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, as well as that of the Inspector General of Police has been made clear on the issue of Amotekun and the fact remains that only the officers and men of the security agencies owned and controlled by the federal government are authorized to carry out functions at designated polling booths, collation centers, and other INEC facilities during elections. Also, the idea of Amotekun Corps serving as security guards to PDP leaders and Chieftains shall not be allowed on the day of the election.” Sadare stated.
