The governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, have traded allegations and counter-accusations ahead of the state’s upcoming governorship election on July 16.
Senator Ademola Adeleke Campaign Chairman, Niyi Owolade, and Chairman, Media And Strategy Committee, Diran Odeyemi, have accused the APC of having three diabolical agendas, which they claim have already begun to be implemented, based on recent tragic happenings in the state.
They claimed that the evil agendas include direct violence against PDP leaders and supporters, the appointment of a tainted State Returning Officer in the person of University of Ibadan Vice Chancellor Prof. Kayode Adebowale, and the use of ill-gotten wealth to buy votes and sabotage the electoral process.
They said, “It is regrettable that the Amotekun security outfit established for the purpose of strengthening regional security of boundaries to curb the activities of bandits, kidnappers, terrorists, etc. has now become a tool of oppression and attack in the hands of some desperate politicians of the ruling Party in Osun State, the APC.
“They are launching offensive weapons and dangerous ammunition to intimidate, oppress and harass members of the PDP in Osun State so as to desperately have their way in the coming Osun Governorship election in less than 30 days from now,” the PDP said in the press conference.
“As much as we have confidence that adherence to the spirit and letters of the Electoral Act will guarantee free and fair election, we reject the appointment of Prof Adebowale as State Returning Officer for the July 16th election on account of partisanship and affiliation with the All Progressive Congress as a party, through the party’s former national Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun (the chairman of the governing council and pro chancellor of University of Ibadan), the Governor-elect of Ekiti state, Mr Biodun Oyebanji and his membership of alumni association of Ayedaade Grammar School, Ikire, of which Osun State deputy governor is a member.
The Osun PDP also accused the APC of compiling the Permanent Voter Card information of public workers, teachers, and retirees in the state in order to buy votes.
Governor Oyetola, however, denied the charges through his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Sunday Akere, saying the PDP is accusing others of what it is now doing.
Akere said, “They are been hunted by their shadow. We are aware of their evil plans to sabotage the electoral process but we keep quiet. Keeping quiet doesn’t mean that we don’t know what they are plotting. We just don’t want to be dragged to their mess.
“Governor Oyetola has done so well in the state since he was sworn into office, so we don’t need to buy anybody’s conscience before they would vote for him for the second term.
“It is the PDP that is involved in vote-buying, they are engaging in fire-for-fire politics. We urge the security operatives in the state to watch them closely to prevent their evil plots in the state.”
