Oni: I have no deal with Tinubu on poll

Oni, who was reacting to speculations that he has entered into a deal with Tinubu to step down for the APC candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, said his ambition to govern the state was intact and non-negotiable.

He addressed reporters in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, saying there was no reason for him to quit when he is convinced he has a good chance of winning the election.

The candidate said he still has a cordial relationship with Tinubu, but insisted that the former governor’s emergence as the APC presidential candidate won’t sway him to shelve his governorship aspiration or compromise it.

He added: “This is a lie. I have not seen Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for over a year now. I am here for Ekiti people, and I will not compromise their interest for anything.

“I am not also desperate. I am a contented person and I am not a person who can be bought with money, I can’t be purchased. So, I did not meet anybody anywhere to compromise my candidacy.”

Oni also lambasted politicians planning to buy the conscience of the people in the election, describing vote-buying as an unpardonable criminal offence in the face of the law.

“EFCC and ICPC operatives must clampdown on those who want to be in power at all cost, but as good as this is, our people must resist unlawful arrest. Nobody should be arrested unlawfully while others are being protected. The clampdown must be total.

“If anyone commits an offence, let him be arrested lawfully through a warrant of arrest. We have seen a situation whereby minority was lorded over the majority, but it won’t happen again in Ekiti.

“Vote buying is a criminal offence and that the position of the ballot box must be such that you drop your ballots before the prying eyes of the buyers saw where you voted,” he added.