The Imole Campaign Council, responsible for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election efforts in Osun State, has formally requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resolve identified deficiencies observed in recent off-cycle and by-elections. Lere Oyewumi, the campaign’s Director-General, addressed the media in Osogbo on Monday, highlighting the need for more robust electoral procedures.
Oyewumi pointed to several irregularities reported in past elections across states like Ogun, Oyo, Jigawa, and Ekiti. These include the distribution of PVCs to suspicious individuals, shortages of sensitive voting materials, and the emergence of pre-thumbprinted ballots. He further cited technical issues with the BVAS system in Ekiti and the FCT, as well as the erroneous inclusion of non-participating political parties on official ballots.
Regarding the upcoming Osun poll, Oyewumi noted reports suggesting that APC officials might attempt to preload BVAS machines. He labeled such actions as a dangerous threat to the electronic accreditation process. Additionally, the campaign team expressed deep skepticism regarding the current PVC distribution, demanding full transparency to prevent voter disenfranchisement or proxy collection. The council emphasized that their feedback is intended to bolster the integrity of the electoral process rather than undermine it, reminding INEC of the public’s expectation for a fair outcome in the August 15 election.
