0
0
Accord Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plan to Delete Members From Voters’ Register
0
0
Accord Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plan to Delete Members From Voters’ Register
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
The Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor, Gboyega Oyetola, are behind an alleged plot to manipulate the voters’ register ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.
The party claimed that the APC leadership in Osun held a secret meeting on Wednesday at its Ileri Oluwa campaign office, where plans were allegedly made to remove members of the Accord Party from the voters’ register.
According to a statement signed by the state chairman of the party, Pastor Victor Akande, a three-man committee was set up during the meeting to liaise with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State.
The statement alleged that the plan was to remove at least 75 Accord members from each polling unit while also deleting the names of 25 APC members in order to make the exercise appear like a technical error.
Akande further alleged that the newly posted Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state had agreed to direct the ICT department of INEC to carry out the exercise.
He claimed that the operation was expected to begin next week, adding that a call centre allegedly linked to APC governorship aspirant, Bola Oyebamiji, would serve as the coordinating point.
Condemning the alleged move, Akande described it as “an attempted coup against democracy and the democratic rights of the people of Osun State.”
“We are miles ahead of the Osun APC plot to rig the August 15 polls. We condemn the Osun APC and its candidate, Mr Oyebamiji, for daily plotting to sabotage the August 15 election,” he said.
He warned the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner against collaborating with the APC, saying any attempt to tamper with the voters’ register could destabilise the state.
“We are using this medium to raise the alarm to all lovers of democracy and warn that unless the Osun REC wants to create chaos in the state, she should not collaborate with Mr Oyetola and the Osun APC to mutilate the voters’ register,” Akande stated.
The Accord chairman also called on INEC to maintain neutrality and ensure the credibility of the forthcoming election.
“We call on the Osun INEC office to shun any clandestine collaboration with the APC. Such a plot, if confirmed, constitutes a major threat to the sanctity and credibility of the forthcoming election.
“INEC must ensure a credible voters’ register devoid of partisan manipulation. Our party will not accept or condone any scheme aimed at disenfranchising the people of Osun State,” he added.
Attempts to get reactions from the Osun APC and INEC were unsuccessful as of the time this report was filed.
