One of the governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Kunle Adegoke, has stated that there is a plot by the Osun state government to doctor the primary in favour of “the state anointed aspirant”, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
Kunle Adegoke, who is a Lagos based lawyer, stated this in a press statement he issued to the press stating that the direct mode of election has already been compromised but he will still participate to satisfy legal requirements.
He said: “The INEC will need to send 332 officials to monitor the election in all the 332 wards all over the state. Commissioners and local government chairmen who have been instructed to manipulate the exercise in favour of Oyetola will be presiding officers in each of the wards.
“It is sad to note that the supporters of the state-anointed aspirant, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, are now threatening our supporters that they should not appear at the ballot centres except they are ready to vote for the said anointed aspirant.
“The supporters of the anointed aspirant, backed by state apparatus, have been distributing fake membership cards recently printed and soliciting for votes with huge cash.
“I, Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, unequivocally state that this primary election is already schemed in favour of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola by some leaders of the party.
“I am only going to participate in it for obvious legal reasons as I am not prepared to boycott any election to give them an opportunity to have a consensus candidate.”
Adegoke further lamented that Osun officials are happy because security agencies like the police and other sister agencies have alos been compromised to favor Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and thugs have also been mobilized.
He state that almost 24 hours to the event, one of the 17 aspirants have access to the membership register to guide the election and the team of Alhaji Oyetola has been issuing forms and membership cards and money to persons who are not members of the party.
He also added that the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to “deepen democratic ethos” by applying direct primaries in other elections like the National Assembly, State Assembly and governorship elections in all the states as this will go a long way to deepen democracy and members will be more involved in the democratic process and any attempt to change the process after the Osun poll will expose the party as hypocritical.