Osun poll: Don’t fall for APC’s monetary inducement, Adeleke urges residents

By Sunday Oguntuyi, Osogbo

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has urged residents of the state not to succumb to alleged monetary inducements by the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that an alleged coordinated operation to buy voters’ cards and obtain their PINs is aimed at disenfranchising voters ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor alleged that the APC was engaging in illegal and anti-democratic activities designed to compromise the voters’ register, electronically disenfranchise eligible voters and manipulate the outcome of the election.

Adeleke called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action.

According to the statement, reports from across the state’s 30 local government areas and the Area Office indicate that APC agents are allegedly offering money to voters in exchange for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and PIN numbers.

The governor warned residents not to part with their voter cards under any circumstances, stressing that such actions could deprive them of their constitutional right to vote.

He further alleged that the operation was particularly targeted at local government areas where the Accord Party enjoys significant support.

According to Adeleke, the alleged objective is to manipulate voter registration details and relocate voters from their original polling areas, thereby making it difficult or impossible for them to vote on election day.

The governor also claimed that, in some areas, APC agents were requiring voters to swear oaths before collecting monetary inducements in exchange for their PINs or photocopies of their voter cards.

Describing the development as criminal and a violation of the Electoral Act, Adeleke urged the electoral commission to investigate what he described as possible insider collaboration in the alleged scheme.

“I task the electoral body not to look the other way. We have reports of insider collusion which we are still investigating. Any link between the PIN numbers on the voter cards and manipulation of the voting process is a source of concern for us. We trust the electoral body to act,” the governor said.

He appealed to residents to safeguard their voter cards and resist any attempt to buy them.

“My dear people of Osun State, don’t sell your voter cards. Your card is your power to vote and elect your leaders on August 15 and beyond. Osun APC wants to stop you from voting. Don’t surrender your cards,” he added.