Osun election: Adeleke cries out over alleged plot to declare poll inconclusive

The Imole Campaign Council, the campaign organisation of Osun State Governor and Accord Party governorship candidate Ademola Adeleke, has raised the alarm over an alleged plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the ongoing governorship election inconclusive.

The campaign council alleged that the move was being coordinated by some governors and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in an attempt to frustrate what it described as Adeleke’s “imminent victory” and subvert the will of the electorate.

In a statement signed by Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, the group described the alleged plan as sinister and undemocratic.

“Our party wishes to inform Nigerians of a sinister plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to declare the ongoing governorship election inconclusive in an apparent move to frustrate the imminent victory of Sen. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke of the Accord,” the statement said.

The campaign council alleged that the development was one of the “last-minute desperate moves” by the APC to derail Adeleke’s expected victory.

It called on INEC to uphold its commitment to conduct a free, fair, and credible election, while also reminding the electoral body and security agencies of President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the Osun election must not be compromised.

The campaign council further urged the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies to provide adequate protection for collation centres across the state.

It alleged that hoodlums hired by the APC could attempt to disrupt the collation process.

The statement also alleged that ballot boxes had already been hijacked at some polling units and urged security agencies to arrest those responsible and prosecute them.

“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,” it said.

The campaign council also appealed to local and international observers monitoring the election to pay close attention to developments during the collation process and speak out against any attempt to undermine the electoral process.

The allegations could not, however, be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

INEC had yet to officially announce the final result of the election, with results from polling units and wards still being collated.