Oba Fredercik Obateru Akinruntan, the Okoro Ajiga 1 of Ugbo Kingdom, has been accused of hijacking voting materials meant for Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
The All Progressive Congress’s Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya,in a statement in Akure alleged that;“Electoral materials were hijacked in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State by His Royal Majesty, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinrutan, the Okoro Ajiga 1, of Ugbo Kingdom, in conjunction with PDP. His son is a candidate of the PDP”.
But the Oba, in a telephone interview, described the allegation as spurious and embarrassing.
“I am a traditional ruler. I do not play politics. The allegation is embarrassing”, he said.
“I am in my palace in Ode Ugbo. I am not involved in any electoral malpractices. It’s a lie.
“I am the father of politicians. I am not involved in politics even though my son is a contestant.
“It’s surprising that the APC can go to the extent of alleging that I am involved in electoral malpractices. It is unfortunate that they went this far”.
Meanwhile, the APC alleged that the ballot papers, ballot boxes and result sheets meant for election in Ayetoro community, Ugbo Ward 2, the home of the APC candidate for Ilaje Constituency 1, had been snatched by armed men
The party added: “Also, Ilepete community, the collation centre for Ugbo Ward 3, was attacked by armed thugs; shooting of gunshots took the better part of the early hours of voting at Ilowo to scare voters away.
“The home town of Chief Omojuwa, a former director of OSOPADEC, was also under siege”.
