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| Hon. Soji Adagunodo |
The Chairman of the People's Democratic party in Osun State, Hon Soji Adagunodo has raised fresh concerns over preparations for the State Governorship election holding tomorrow.
Addressing the Press in Osogbo today, Adagunodo said agents of the party discovered discrepancies in the allocation of ballot papers to wards in several local governments.
The discrepancies according to the chairman include duplication and multiple repetition of wards which could lead to irregularities in the voting process and compromise the integrity of the exercise.
He also alleged that the APC had perfected plans to induce voters with money as several helicopter load of cash flew into the Osun State Government house between the hours of 4 and 6pm yesterday.
The monies, according to him, were contributed by Governors elected on the platform of the APC.
Hon Adagunodo also raised concerns about harassment and attempted abduction of PDP leaders by security agencies in some local governments.
Here is a full text of the Press Conference addressed by the State chairman of the PDP:
Gentlemen of the Press and Eminent Election Observers,
I wish to bring to your attention some very critical developments happening in the last 24 hours which we believe may hamper the smooth and fair conduct of the Governorship election holding tomorrow in our dear state if not urgently addressed.
The issues itemized below therefore require very urgent attention of the INEC and the Police as well as the Election Monitoring and Observer Groups involved in this election:
1. DUPLICATION OF WARDS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF BALLOT PAPERS
We wish to call the attention of the general public and especially Election observer groups to the duplication, and in some cases, multiple repetition of wards for the purpose of allocating ballot papers to Local governments ahead of tomorrow’s election. This unusual practice which was detected this morning after release of sensitive materials by INEC from the CBN, Osogbo Branch, raises concern about a likely supply of ballot papers far in excess of what should ordinarily be allocated to wards and polling units. This may set a tone for manipulation and compromise the integrity of the polling exercise.
We are worried that the Independent National Electoral Commission may be wittingly and unwittingly be laying a land mine against the smooth and credible conduct of tomorrow’s Governorship election.
In addition we are concerned about the disconnect between the total number of PVCs collected and the Ballot papers issued. We all know the fact that no election records a 100% turn out of voters. Be that as it may, we are holding the published total number of voters constant and the total number of PVCs collected as the maximum number of ballot papers to be recorded as utilized for this voting exercise. We expect that at the end of voting, the number of votes cast must not exceed the total number of collected PVCs recorded as 1,192,386.
2. PLANNED MONETISATION OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS BY APC; THE ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS
We wish to alert the General public to the planned monetization of the Osun State Governorship election, especially the voting process by the All Progressive Congress. Towards this ignoble end, several helicopters loaded with cash were flown into the Government House between the hours of 4 and 8pm yesterday 20th of September, 2018. The money which we were reliably informed ran into billions of Naira was contributed by State Governors elected on the platform of the APC to enable the party induce voters at various polling units tomorrow. In addition, each of the 67 Local Governments and Local Council Development Authority in Osun State were made to cough out 12.5 million Naira each for the same purpose. The plans of the APC as gathered from very credible sources was to buy votes with a sum ranging from 5 to 10 thousand Naira each at the polling units. It is quite unfortunate that a Government which did not find it compelling to pay salaries and allowances of its workforce for 34 months could resort attempting to buy the conscience of voters in this election. We wish to put security agencies on notice about this plan and urge them to be decisive in forestalling same.
3. HARRASMENT AND PLANNED ABDUCTION OF PDP LEADERS BY SECURITY AGENTS
It has also come to our attention that some over-zealous security agents have started harassing and attempting to abduct leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in certain parts of the state. Specifically, attempts were made to abduct PDP leaders in Obokun, Ejigbo, Ila , Ife North, Egbedore, Ilesha West and Ayedaade between yesterday and this morning. Even though the attempts were thwarted by vigilant members of the community who stood their grounds against these enemies of democracy. We are encouraged by the resolute stand of our people to see an end to oppression and suppression and we hereby reassure all good minded citizen of our dear state that we will not let them down no matter the level of harassment.
It is important that the top echelon of the Police, the Nigerian Army and DSS take note of these developments and call their overzealous men and officers involved to order before they cause irreparable reputational damage to the hard working leaderships of these security organisations.
In conclusion, we wish to urge all stakeholders in this election to ensure that everything is done according to the provisions of law and in compliance with best International practices,
We want to assure you all that we remain resolute in our determination to be vigilant and pay very careful attention to all processes leading to the free, fair and credible conduct of the Osun State Governorship election.
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