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The Accord Party has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to intimidate voters and arrest its leaders ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
The party’s campaign spokesperson, Bamidele Salam, made the allegation on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, as political parties intensified mobilisation across the state.
Salam claimed that opposition parties were planning to create fear in the six local government areas of Ijesa land and discourage residents from voting.
“This is their grand plan. Their plan is to scare people away from voting in Ijesa land because, by their plan, they hope that they could use the six local governments in Ijesa land, lock the place down, scare voters away and write results on Saturday,” he said.
He alleged that the plan was driven by the opposition’s belief that it could not defeat the Accord Party candidate in a free and fair election.
“They know that even the atmosphere in Osun, even the mood of the people, they cannot match Senator Ademola Adeleke one-to-one in a free and fair contest, and all they are interested in is to suppress the votes and threaten people,” Salam said.
The Accord spokesperson urged voters not to be deterred by the alleged intimidation, calling on residents to participate peacefully in the election.
“They should, and above all, they should not be scared. All they are trying to do is to scare people away so that they don’t come out and vote. Come out on Saturday and vote,” he said.
Salam also said Governor Ademola Adeleke had raised concerns over an alleged plan to arrest and detain some Accord Party leaders before the election.
The allegations came amid heightened political tensions in Osun as candidates and their supporters stepped up their final campaigns ahead of Saturday’s poll, which will determine the next governor of the state.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who also appeared on the programme, called on his supporters to vote peacefully while addressing questions about political violence.
“My people, go and vote. Stop killing them. That is my own wish. If you continue to kill them, there will be no peace because we don’t want peace to elude us in Osun. That is my own,” he said.
The election is scheduled to hold across Osun State’s 30 local government areas.
