LG Poll: Osun Govt, APM Trade Words Over Election Credibility
The Osun State Government and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) have engaged in a war of words over the credibility of Saturday’s local government election, with the opposition party dismissing the poll as a sham while the state insists it was a resounding success.
The Chairman of APM in Osun State, Hon. Adewale Adebayo, berated the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), claiming that no real election took place anywhere in the state apart from Ede, the hometown of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Speaking to journalists, Adebayo alleged that OSIEC’s insistence on conducting the poll was merely an attempt to justify the billions of naira allocated for the exercise.
He described the process as fraudulent, accusing the commission’s chairman, Barr. Hashim Abioye, of being a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a known ally of Governor Adeleke.
“What we experienced in Osun today was not an election but a total lockdown. The people refused to participate in the illegal poll except in Ede, where only a few PDP members voted in some polling units controlled by top political appointees of the governor,” Adebayo stated.
He further accused OSSIEC of staging a predetermined election, stating, “Our party has been vindicated by this exercise. We earlier raised concerns that OSIEC, under Abioye’s leadership, could never conduct a credible election. This has now been proven right.”
APM members across several local government areas, including Irewole, Isokan, Boripe, Ifelodun, Olorunda, Egbedore, Irepodun, and Orolu, confirmed that no voting took place in their respective locations.
“In Ede, where they claimed to have held an election, they reportedly concluded voting by 8:30 am. How is that possible? The same Ede that voted until 9 pm during the 2022 governorship election?” Adebayo questioned.
He demanded a public apology from Governor Adeleke, OSSIEC, and members of the cabinet for what he described as an imposed lockdown on Osun residents under the guise of an election.
However, the Osun State Government has dismissed APM’s allegations, insisting that the election was free, fair, and credible.
The Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Teslim Igbalaye, who spoke to journalists, countered Adebayo’s claims, maintaining that voter turnout was impressive across the state.
“There was massive voter participation. I personally voted in Osogbo, Ward 7, Unit 7, and the turnout was remarkable. This election was conducted in line with the constitution, and the people of Osun State demonstrated confidence in OSIEC and the government,” Igbalaye asserted.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
