The All Progressives Congress has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party plans to massively rig the August 9 governorship election in 10 identified local governments in Osun State, in addition to seeking a pliable person as a returning officer.
In a statement issued in Lagos State on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also said President Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly told the security agencies that he wants victory for his party at all costs, an admonition the APC said will definitely shape their perception of the election as a do-or-die affair.
Mohammed said: “Nigerians from all walks of life, desirous of a free and fair election on Saturday, are reaching out to us with useful information on the plan by the desperate PDP to rig the forthcoming election, and we are taking the information very seriously.
“For example, we learnt that the PDP has identified Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Olurunda, Iwo, Ifelodun, Osogbo, Odo Otin and Aiyedade as places where they plan to perpetrate massive rigging. Two different results have allegedly been written ahead of the elections while three Vice Chancellors, one from the North Central and two from the South West, have been pencilled down to serve as a returning officer. The incentive for the returning officer who can announce the doctored results is 1 billion Naira.”
The APC said when these plans are put together with the massive deployment of security agencies to Osun State to harass and intimidate the opposition, the huge amounts of cash being moved into the state via armoured personnel carriers and the alleged electoral malfeasance specialist-ministers who have landed in Osun State, it is clear that the PDP is working hard to ensure that the forthcoming election is anything but free, fair and credible.
It therefore called on the Independent National Electoral Commission not to allow any unscrupulous person to serve as a returning officer for the election and to pay special attention to voting in the identified local governments where the PDP plans to influence the outcome of the election.
It said: “No one will accept the result of an election in which the returning officer is compromised with filthy lucre. This is why were are calling on INEC to ensure that only a person of integrity can serve in that important post.”
The APC said its agents will not sign any false results of the August 9 election.
The party also called on the international community to pay attention to the issues that could affect the outcome of the election, instead of waiting until the deed has been done.
The APC said: “The biggest danger to Saturday’s election in Osun is the unbridled desperation of the PDP to win at all costs. This explains why the party’s candidate, Mr. Iyiola Omisore, has lied so shamelessly about a purported USAID survey that puts him ahead of Gov. Aregbesola. But for USAID which quickly put a lie to the peddled story, Mr. Omisore would have continued to use it as a campaign tool.”
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