APC, PDP trade accusations over Osun INEC office attack plan

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) OSUN State Section sounded the alarm on Saturday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) concluded its intention to attack the Commission's office Osogbo National Independent Election to destroy BVAS machines used in the July 16 gubernatorial election.

This is exactly as the APC described the allegation as false and baseless.

The PDP, in a statement in Osogbo by acting state chairman Dr. Akindele Adekunle, said credible reports available to them revealed that the attack targeted the vault where the machines were kept in the office of Osogbo of the electoral commission.

"We have a denunciation which we consider very credible according to which the APC has developed a plot to burn down the INEC secretariat in Osogbo. We specifically hold that the target is the vault where the the machines as well as the ICT section of the commission.

“We urge the INEC leadership to strengthen the security protection of the INEC national office. These threats should not be taken lightly, especially after the open declaration of insurgency against the state by Mr. Famodun,” the statement warned.

The APC, Dr Akindele said, is desperate to rid itself of any likelihood of admissibility of the BVAS machines during the ongoing hearing of the governor's motion in Osogbo.

The statement further outlined the APC's request to move the Tribunal sitting to Abuja, noting that "the ruling party fears the expected ease of verification and consequent invalidation of its alleged overvote if Tribunal sittings continue in Osogbo.

“We have credible reports that the APC is working to obstruct further sessions in Osun State in order to hinder transparency in reviewing data on BVAS machines. are here in the state of Osun, verification will be easily managed without logistical constraints and without exposing the machines to tampering and physical dismemberment.

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“To implement its plan of manipulation, the APC has concluded that further sessions at Osun must be halted, particularly if the over-voting allegation is to stand. As the misrepresentation cannot be sustained without tampering with the BVAS machine, the APC is developing a plan that will expose the machines to tampering during relocation and relocation.

The PDP asserted that BVAS machines remain the most credible tools for verifying results. Due to their large numbers and the sensitivity of their content, moving them to Abuja in particular poses a serious risk of compromise.

Bringing them to the Osogbo court is the best way to facilitate a quick, fair and equitable hearing of the petition before the court headed by Judge Kume.

In its response, the APC called the PDP's allegations false and laughable.

The party's spokesperson in the state, Chief Kola Olabisi, in a statement in Osogbo, said that "the allegation further confirms the fact that not all people who pass through a school are qualified to be classified as educated".

"How on earth can someone who calls himself the acting president of the state party spread such errors for reasons that are not far from having an ulterior motive?"

“The hand-picked and controversial Acting Chairman of the Osun State PDP, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, should stop exposing his ignorance on the workings of INEC.

“It is a pity that the education level of the Acting State PDP Chairman of Osun State does not teach him to know that INEC operates a central server at its national headquarters where the details of the gubernatorial election are securely stored."