Osun poll holds amid arrests, accusations of malpractices

All is set for the governorship election in Osun State.
But this is coming amid accusations and counter-accusations by the leading political parties in the election and alleged arrests of key chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, which is fielding the incumbent, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as its candidate.
On Friday night, the APC raised the alarm that some of its chieftains have been arrested in different parts of the state by soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Service.
Key among those said to have been arrested and whose whereabouts were unknown as at press time were the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; a member of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Folarin Fafowora; Sunday Dare, the media aide to a National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and A. Salisu, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.
Beyond the arrests, Friday was also full of drama as accusations and counter-accusations of malpractices dogged the election.
The Peoples Democratic Party alleged that a close ally of Aregbesola, Otunba Tunde Badmus, was found with 50,000 already thumb printed ballot papers.
Badmus, said to be an Osun State-based industrialist, was described as one of “Aregbesola’s major financiers”.
The 50,000 already thumb printed ballot papers were alleged to have been found in his farm resort in Osogbo.
He was said to have been whisked to Abuja by operatives of the Department of State Service.
The APC on the other hand accused the police top hierarchy in the state of being the channel for the distribution of bribe money to security agents for the election.
It also alleged that two officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were arrested in Obokun Local Government Area of the state attempting to divert sensitive election materials.
It said the two INEC officials were apprehended around 3am on Friday.
Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary of the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, however, on Friday night debunked the allegation.
Idowu said the materials were not tampered and that the integrity of the electoral process remained intact.
From the Social Democratic Party came on Friday allegations that both the PDP and APC were still involved in campaigns for the election contrary to the electoral law.
The SDP sought the disqualification of the candidates of both parties.
Idowu, however said all was set for the election, which, no doubt, would be characterised by tension and further accusations and counter-accusations.
He said: “This is to reassure the public that this INEC remains committed to ensuring high integrity of the electoral process and delivery of free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun State.”