Following calls by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the postponement of the Ondo governorship election, seventeen other parties have demanded the same.

The parties alleged that their candidates are unable to campaign in the state due to the high level of insecurity.

They also threaten to take undisclosed actions if INEC refuses to postpone the election.

Parties calling for the postponement included the Labour party, United Progressives Party,  National Conscience Party,  African Democratic Congress,  Peoples Redemption Party,  Progressives Peoples Alliance and Peoples Party of Nigeria.

Others were the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Better Nigeria Progressive Party, Democratic Peoples Congress, Democratic Peoples Party, Peoples for Democratic Change, Peoples Party of Nigeria, United Democratic Party, Advance Congress of Democrats, Peoples Progressives Party and Independent Democrats.

The National Chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkardri Abdusalam, read a speech on behalf of other parties at a press conference in Abuja.

Salam said the crisis which was waiting to break out was avoidable.

Abdulasalam said, “Another critical concern is the growing level of violence and insecurity in the Ondo political environment prior to the governorship election on Saturday.

“In recognition of this ugly fact, we also take this opportunity to call on the relevant security agencies (the Police, DSS, NSCDC), to immediately put pressure on INEC to postpone the election date to a possible date after the court processes have been completed, but within the constitutional provisions, to guarantee a peaceful and healthy political environment for the election.

“In the Edo State governorship election, which held a few months ago, INEC upheld the candidacy of the Senator Ahmed Markarfi-led PDP as the authentic group to present a candidate for the party; now in the Ondo State governorship election slated for Saturday, the same electoral umpire is upholding the governorship candidacy of the Senator Sheriff-led faction of the party under the guise of obeying a court order.

“This quagmire must be resolved by the court even if this drags on to the Supreme Court before any meaningful election can take place in Ondo State.

“If INEC is blatantly intimidated into abdicating its basic function of monitoring and certifying the validity of party primary elections for the selection of candidates,  and instead acquiesce by allowing the court to arbitrarily pick candidates without INEC-monitored primaries then our democracy is becoming gravely injured, needing urgent ambulatory care and political surgery.”

Azeez