By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Osun State Governorship Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that there is a plan to disrupt the official visit of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Ojo Amupitan, to the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement issued by the Head of the Campaign’s Media and Publicity Committee, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, the party claimed it had received intelligence indicating that a protest was being planned to coincide with the INEC chairman’s stakeholder engagement scheduled for Wednesday, July 29.
According to the APC, the alleged protest is intended to interrupt the meeting and demand the removal of the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner.
The party further alleged that the planned demonstration was being sponsored by Yeyeluwa Dupe Adeleke, the elder sister of Governor Ademola Adeleke. It also claimed the protest would involve women and suspected political thugs allegedly mobilised from Ede and Osogbo to disrupt the event.
“The APC Governorship Campaign Council wishes to draw the attention of security agencies, election stakeholders and the general public to a planned protest scheduled to coincide with the visit of the INEC Chairman to Osun State,” the statement said.
The council claimed the planned action was aimed at creating confusion during the stakeholder engagement and eroding public confidence in the electoral process.
According to the party, the objective of the alleged protest was to cast doubt on the credibility of the forthcoming governorship election and create unnecessary tension in the state.
The APC called on security agencies to provide adequate security throughout the INEC chairman’s visit and ensure that all stakeholders participate in the engagement without intimidation or disruption.
It also appealed to political parties and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and avoid actions capable of undermining the electoral process.
The campaign council reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful, credible and transparent governorship election, urging all stakeholders to place the interests of Osun State above partisan considerations.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Accord Party nor Yeyeluwa Dupe Adeleke had publicly responded to the allegations, and there has been no independent verification of the APC’s claims by security agencies or INEC.
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