Nigeria’s main opposition party APC, has raised an alarm over alleged “plans by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to perpetrate massive rigging in 10 identified Local Governments Areas” in the August 9, Osun state governorship election. while seeking a pliable person as returning officer.
In a statement issued Sunday in Lagos, the All Progressive Congress, said President Goodluck Jonathan instructed Security agents about wanting victory for his party at all costs, showing that the Osun election would be a do-or-die affair.
“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, said the statement signed by APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
“For example, we learnt that the PDP has identified Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Olorunda, 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,” it said.
The party stated that “it is clear that the PDP is working hard to ensure that the forthcoming election is anything but free, fair and credible.”
The party further explained the plot of the Jonathan-led PDP government to allegedly manipulate the results of the polls in order to seize control of the state from Governor rauf Aregbesola, in favour of the PDP candidate Iyiola Omisore.
“When these plans are put together with the massive deployment of security agencies to Osun to harass and intimidate the opposition, the huge amounts of cash being moved into the state via armoured personnel carriers, and the electoral malfeasance specialist-ministers who have landed in Osun.”
It therefore called on INEC not to allow any unscrupulous person to serve as a returning officer for the election, and to pay a special attention to voting in the identified local governments, where the PDP plans to influence the outcome of the election.
“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,” APC said, warning that its agents will not sign any false results of the Aug. 9th 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 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,” it said.