Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Oyebamiji, on Thursday exchanged accusations over alleged attempts to induce voters to part with their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The latest exchange followed Adeleke’s warning that some politicians were allegedly purchasing PVCs and collecting Personal Identification Numbers, PINs, from unsuspecting voters, an action he said could undermine the credibility of the election.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor alleged that there was a coordinated operation by members of the APC to obtain PVCs and PINs from voters, particularly in areas considered strongholds of the Accord Party.
Adeleke claimed the alleged operation was aimed at preventing affected voters from casting their ballots by manipulating their voter registration details before election day.
He said, “APC agents are extracting the PIN numbers on the voters’ cards through offering of monetary rewards. The operation is targeting local governments with huge followership of the Accord Party. The plot is to ensure massive dislocation of registered voters from their place of registration.”
The governor alleged that some individuals were being compelled to swear oaths before surrendering copies of their voter cards or PINs, urging residents to reject any form of inducement capable of denying them their voting rights.
Adeleke also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to investigate the allegations, saying, “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 voters card and manipulations of the voting process is a source of concern for us.”
Responding during a campaign rally in Osogbo, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji also warned residents against exchanging their PVCs for money, alleging that unnamed individuals were attempting to buy the cards indirectly through financial inducements.
Addressing traders at Sabo Market, who declared support for his governorship bid, Oyebamiji urged eligible voters to safeguard their PVCs and resist any offer intended to influence their participation in the election.
He said, “I urge you to keep your Permanent Voter Cards and never sell them to anyone. What some people are doing now is buying PVCs indirectly. They are inviting young people to local government offices, collecting their account details and transferring money to them. Do not be deceived.”
The APC candidate also promised an inclusive administration if elected, assuring traders and other residents that his government would consult communities on their needs and would not abandon them after securing electoral victory.
Osun State is scheduled to hold its governorship election on August 15, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke seeking a second term on the platform of the Accord Party.
Oyebamiji of the APC, Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and 11 other candidates have been cleared by INEC to contest the election.
