Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the Saturday’s by-election for Ibadan North Federal Constituency was marred by “noticeable irregularities”.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle as the winner of the by-election.
State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Olawale Sadare, in a statement on Monday, said the party was still committed to upholding the principle of participatory democracy as well as the sanctity of free and fair conduct of elections.
“Regrettably, established cases of irregularities which characterised the conduct of the by-election of last Saturday in Ibadan North Federal Constituency by INEC have brought back the ugly memory of former President Obasanjo era when election was dubbed a ‘do-or-die’ affair by the PDP.
“This time again, electoral officials and security agents were compromised as they watched helplessly while various sharp practices were being perpetrated in most of the polling units.
āWe have details of the heavy sums of money made available to some PDP chieftains who were stationed across all polling booths to buy votes. As if this was not enough, some INEC officials were made to allow people without PVCs who were brought by some PDP agents to vote as this was the case in most of the Wards,” Sadare alleged
He further claimed that a particular “PDP stalwart was caught in the act” in Ward 07, “but he was later freed by the security agents.”
“Also, handlers of the Park Management System (PMS) mobilised and equipped hundreds of their members for the purpose of intimidating residents and compromising the smooth conduct of the by-election.
“These fierce-looking and weapon-wielding men moved round Yemetu, Alli-Iwo, Bodija, Sango, Mokola, Agbowo among other places within Ibadan North local government council to unleash terror on the residents while voting was taking place and they got away with it,” the APC scribe said.
Sadare added that while the party was compiling details of irregularities which he claimed marred the exercise, he added that a final decision on the matter shall be made in due course.
He appealed to all members and supporters to remain calm and keep faith in the leadership of the APC at all levels.
Oyekunle of the PDP defeated the APC’s candidate, Hon. Adewale Olatunji to the second position inĀ theĀ election.
