8th August, 2014
Simon Ateba, Jethro Ibileke, Gbenro Adesina/Osogbo & Adebobola Alawode
Two officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Obokun LGA Area of Osun State were earlier this morning (around 3a.m.) arrested for diverting sensitive election materials.
Sources said one of the suspects, the Electoral Officer for the LGA, confessed to the act but refused to name those who sent him as he pleaded for mercy.
However, he did not deny when confronted that he was sighted inside vehicles belonging to a PDP stalwart in Obokun, Chief Francis Ade Fadahunsi.
His phone call log also showed clearly that he’s had constant voice and SMS communication with the PDP chief.
The vigilant people of Otan-Ile would have lynched the suspects but for the intervention of police officers.
The INEC vehicle with registration number FG 816 V01 used in transporting the materials and the suspects involved are presently held at the State CID of the Police Command in Oshogbo.
The arrest is coming barely 24 hours to the state governorship election on Saturday, 9 August.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, whose candidate and incumbent governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola, is a leading contender, had alleged that PDP had perfected plans to rig the election by compromising officials of INEC.
APC had alleged that millions of ballot papers were secretly brought into the state on Wednesday in bullion vans.
The spokesperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mrs. Adenike Tadese, when contacted, said she was not aware of such allegation, and as such could not spaek about it.
APC in a statement on Thursday entitled: “In Spite of Mr President’s Assurances, We Still Have Shenanigans,” and signed by the Osun APC Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi and the Director of Publicity, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, alleged that one of the bullion vans purportedly conveying the ballot papers was parked at the PDP secretariat until the wee hours of Thursday before it was taken to an unknown destination.
APC said the ballot papers were “brought in preparatory to thumbprinting them at a Catholic School in Ife Odan and then surreptitiously to be added to the party’s tally in all wards and councils in Saturday’s election.”
The party said it got credible information that vehicles belonging to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) are to be used for the distribution of the ballot papers to the selected areas where the PDP plans to use them to subvert the wishes of the people.
It said the crude method PDP is adoting is completely contrary to the assurances given by President Goodluck Jonathan to the people of Osun that the election will be free and fair.
“We condemn this subterfuge in its entirety. It is an act of desperation and a cynical vote of no confidence on the democratic process and the inalienable right of the people to freely choose their leaders.
“President Goodluck Jonathan assured the people of Osun last Saturday of his commitment to free and fair election and disavowal of rigging and electoral fraud.
“The evidence before us now is to the contrary. Mr President should be true to his words and rein in his party members, who appear hell bent to truncate our hard earned democracy, if they fail in their diabolical bid to rule the state at all costs.
“The PDP must know that the people of Osun are determined to have only their votes counted and to make only their votes count. They are willing on Saturday to let the whole world know that the only way in a democracy to acquire political power is to win their hearts and minds,” the statement read.
The APC warned all stakeholders involved in the conduct of the election, particularly the security agencies and the ad hoc staff of INEC, to be above board before, during and after the election process.
It called on the people of the state to watch all activities in their areas and report any suspicious movement to the appropriate quartres for quick intervention.
“We are therefore urging security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and especially the people of the affected area, to be vigilant and be on the lookout for suspicious activities, which may be tantamount to subversion of our hard-earned democracy.
“Our people must also ensure that such subverssive activities should not be condoned or allowed to happen in their precinct.”
PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Bola Ajao, dismissed APC’s allegation, saying there is nothing like that, adding that “because failure is staring APC in the face, the party is resorting to malicious, reckless and diversionary tactics to hoodwink the people of Osun. But that will fail.” He said PDP was sure of victory.
Meanwhile, INEC said on Thursday that it was scheduled to move sensitive materials from their headquarters in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to all the 30 local government areas in the state.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, Olusegun Agbaje, and the Supervising National Commissioner for the Osun State election, Mohammed Ahmad Wali, who briefed election observers on Thursday in Osogbo assured again of a peaceful and credible poll.
They said allegations that they were planning to rig for a particular candidate are false and baseless.
Wali disclosed that there are over 2500 electoral observers from 29 bodies, 19 local and 10 foreign.
He called on the observers to be independent and professional in the discharge of their duties on Saturday.
In a related development, all banks in the state have been directed to close all services to customers by 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
A notice, which was pasted at the entrance of Fidelity Bank Plc. and First City Monume Bank, both located along Gbongan/Osogbo road, said the directive was from Osun State Bankers’ Forum.