The campaign organisation of the Accord Party governorship candidate in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to declare Saturday’s governorship election inconclusive, urging security agencies to protect collation centres across the state.
The allegation was contained in a statement signed by Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the Imole Campaign Council, as the counting and collation of results continued across the state.
The campaign alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was under pressure to declare the election inconclusive in an attempt to frustrate what it described as Adeleke’s “imminent victory”.
It further alleged that some governors and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were behind the purported move, describing it as an alleged last-minute attempt to undermine the will of Osun voters.
The campaign described the alleged plan as “evil and undemocratic” and urged INEC to uphold its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election.
It also reminded INEC, the APC and security agencies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that the election must not be compromised, stressing that the Osun election would serve as a test ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The campaign specifically appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies to immediately strengthen security around all collation centres in the state.
According to the campaign, the move was necessary to prevent an alleged attempt by hoodlums purportedly hired by the APC to disrupt or subvert the electoral process.
The organisation also alleged that ballot boxes had already been hijacked at some polling units by suspected thugs and called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
“We note with sadness, the hijack of ballot boxes already recorded in a few polling units by these thugs and demand that perpetrators be arrested to face the full wrath of the Law,” the statement said.
The campaign further urged local and international observers monitoring the election to take note of its allegations and speak out in defence of the law and the people of Osun State.
“We also remind the INEC, the APC and Security agencies of the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that this election is not compromised in any form as it will serve as a litmus test for the 2027 General Election,” the statement partly read.
“We also call on the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the DSS, the Commandant-General of the Civil Defence and other Security agencies to immediately provide adequate security at all collation centres to prevent a subversion of the Osun Electoral process by hoodlums hired by the APC.”
“Local and International observers are hereby invited to take note of this information and speak out on the side of the law and people of Osun State at this hour,” the campaign added.
