Osun Poll: Adeleke campaign raises alarm over alleged plan to cut short voting

By Lateef Ibrahim

The Imole Campaign Council, the re-election campaign organisation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to disrupt voting in parts of the state during Saturday’s governorship election.
The campaign council claimed on Monday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was seeking to influence the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into prematurely closing polling units in areas regarded as strongholds of Governor Adeleke.
According to the group, such a move could prevent thousands of eligible voters from casting their ballots and ultimately affect the outcome of the August 15 election.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the council urged INEC to resist any form of political pressure and ensure that voting rules are applied uniformly across the state.
“We unequivocally condemn this despicable plot and alert all Nigerians and lovers of democracy to the danger it poses to the credibility of the election,” the statement said.
The campaign council alleged that the APC, having failed in what it described as attempts to prevent Adeleke and his party from participating in the election through legal means, had allegedly resorted to arrests, intimidation and harassment of Accord Party members.
It further claimed that information available to the campaign suggested that “federal might” could be deployed to pressure the electoral commission and undermine voters’ rights.
The council therefore warned that no polling unit should be closed arbitrarily while voters who arrived within the legally prescribed voting period were still waiting to vote.
“The rules must be applied uniformly across Osun State without fear, favour or political interference,” it said.
The Adeleke campaign also appealed to civil society organizations, election observers, international organizations and the media to closely monitor the election and expose any attempt by political actors to manipulate state institutions.
Describing the Osun governorship election as an important test ahead of the 2027 general elections, the campaign council said the poll must be conducted transparently to preserve public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The APC has not, in the statement provided, responded to the allegations.