By Sunday Ameh
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of allegedly planning to manipulate the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Adeleke raised the allegation in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, and made available to journalists in Osogbo on Sunday.
The governor alleged that recent comments attributed to Oyetola contained indications of an attempt by the APC to interfere with the electoral process ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll.
According to Adeleke, the alleged remarks were capable of raising concerns among residents and stakeholders who expect the election to be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.
He therefore called on relevant authorities, particularly security agencies and electoral officials, to pay close attention to developments leading up to the election and ensure that the will of the people is protected.
The governor urged the electorate to remain vigilant and resist any attempt by individuals or political groups to undermine the credibility of the election.
Adeleke’s accusation comes as political activities intensify across Osun ahead of the governorship election, with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the APC mobilising supporters and intensifying their campaigns across the state.
The governor also appealed to residents to remain peaceful and avoid actions capable of disrupting the electoral process.
He maintained that the people of Osun should be allowed to freely choose their preferred candidate without intimidation, manipulation or interference.
The allegation has further heightened political tension in the state, coming just days before voters are expected to head to the polling units to elect the next governor.
Oyetola, a former governor of Osun State and one of the leading figures of the APC in the state, has yet to publicly respond to Adeleke’s latest allegation at the time of filing this report.
The electoral authorities and security agencies are expected to play a crucial role in ensuring that the poll is conducted peacefully and that the outcome reflects the votes cast by the electorate.
With the election drawing closer, attention is now focused on the ability of the relevant authorities to guarantee a credible process amid allegations and counter-allegations from the major political camps.
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