Accord Party accuses APC of voter‑register tampering ahead of Osun governorship poll
Osun State – The Accord Party has lodged a formal complaint alleging that the All Progressives Congress (APC) conspired to manipulate the voters’ register in preparation for the upcoming Osun governorship election. In a statement released on Friday, Accord chairman Pastor Victor Akande said the party uncovered evidence of a secret meeting among APC officials that allegedly instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resident electoral commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, to delete selected voters from the register.
According to the complaint, the meeting was held at the Ileri Oluwa campaign office, where a three‑person committee was purportedly formed to liaise with INC officials in the state. The alleged plan called for the removal of at least 75 Accord supporters and 25 APC supporters from each affected polling unit, a tactic intended to appear as a “technical error.” A source cited in the statement claimed the new resident electoral commissioner had agreed to direct INEC’s ICT head to carry out the changes.
The Accord document further alleges that the operation was slated to begin within days and would be coordinated through a call centre linked to the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. Pastor Akande described the scheme as “an attempted coup against democracy and the democratic rights of the people of Osun.” He urged INEC to remain neutral and warned that any collusion between the APC and electoral officials would undermine the credibility of the election. “We will always be aware of the APC’s sinister plot to rig the polls,” he added, calling on “lovers of democracy” to stay vigilant.
The APC has categorically denied the accusations. In a response signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC described the claims as false, baseless and designed to mislead the electorate. Olabisi asserted that there is no record of any meeting between party leader Gboyega Oyetola and INEC staff, nor any instructions given to Commissioner Babalola. The party characterized the allegations as “fabricated information” aimed at sowing doubt ahead of the election and appealed for the public to disregard the accusations.
Both parties agree that the election remains a focal point for intense political activity in Osun. INEC has not issued a comment on the specific allegations but has reiterated its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible poll. Observers note that any proven interference with the voters’ register could trigger legal challenges and affect the election’s legitimacy.
The controversy adds another layer of tension to an already competitive gubernatorial contest in Osun State, where the APC and Accord are among the leading contenders. As the election draws near, stakeholders will be watching closely for any developments that could influence the integrity of the voting process.
