Osun LG Polls: APC, APM accuse OSSIEC of electoral fraud

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun State have accused the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) of relocating voting materials for the upcoming Local Government elections to the Government House in Osogbo.

Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo, Hon. Jamiu Olawumi alleged that the APC had received reliable information indicating that all voting materials for the February 22 election had been moved to the Government House.

Olawumi claimed that this action by OSSIEC Chairman, Hashim Abioye, signaled a shift from democratic practices to authoritarian governance in Osun State. He argued that sensitive materials should be stored in secure locations like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or police stations.

“We have it on good authority that all the voting materials for the illegal council election scheduled for February 22, 2025, have been moved to the Government House,” Olawumi said.

“This action by the OSSIEC chairman confirms that Osun State has shifted from democracy to dictatorship. The common practice is to move sensitive materials to either the CBN or a police station.

“This also confirms that Abioye, who was formerly the Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Special Adviser to Governor Adeleke on legal matters, was appointed to sabotage democracy at the council level.”

He further alleged that moving the materials to the Government House was an indication that the election would be manipulated before Saturday.

“The materials will be thumbprinted before Saturday. The election is illegal, and we have taken control of all the councils,” he claimed.

Similarly, the APM, through its State Chairman, Hon. Adewale Adebayo, condemned the alleged movement of sensitive materials to the Government House and urged the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to boycott the election.

“Moving sensitive materials to the Government House this afternoon has validated our earlier claims that Abioye cannot conduct a free and fair election. This action is an insult to all Osun State residents. I urge the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to boycott this illegal election, as their participation would make them complicit,” Adebayo said.

In response, OSSIEC Chairman Hashim Abioye denied the allegations, stating that only non-sensitive materials had been deployed to necessary locations ahead of Saturday’s election.

Abioye insisted that no materials were moved to the Government House.