Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has called on security agencies to investigate the former SSG, Ifedayo Abegunde over a statement credited to him that the 2016 governorship election was rigged in his favour.
The former SSG few hours after his resignation featured on a live radio programme in Akure where he alleged that ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) rigged the 2016 governorship election in favour of Akeredolu.
But the Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye called on the security agencies to probe the allegations.
The statement reads, “In a manner not uncharacteristic, the former SSG, shortly after submitting his resignation letter, equally granted a press interview wherein he made some allegations against the Governor.”
“A quick run of the allegations shows a semblance of sustained recycling of falsehood as well as blackmail contents targeted at Mr. Governor and his immediate family. These are pernicious lies and imaginary thoughts lines considered perennial and seemingly becoming boring.”
” It is, however, imperative to draw the attention of the Nation’s Security Agencies to a particular outburst wherein the former SSG confessed to have participated in electoral fraud in 2016.”
“Mr Governor, as an avid believer in Democracy, Rule of Law and Legality, is not a beneficiary of the fraud Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde and his unnamed co-horts allegedly, perpetrated during the 2016 governorship election. He would not encourage such; not even in the coming election.”
“Ordinarily, the former SSG’s vituperations which have come under heavy criticisms are assuaging. This is even as the voluntary dispatch of his shortcomings and emotional distress are enough to attract empathy.”
” Nevertheless, Abegunde’s outbursts are weighty confessions that must be investigated by security agencies. Anything to the contrary will not only encourage future acts as contained in the confessions. Such brazen anti-democratic acts are unambiguously, grave dangers to our fledgling Electoral System”.
