APC alleges plot by PDP to rig council poll in Oyo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised concerns over an alleged plot by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to compromise the forthcoming council election in Oyo State.

In a statement, yesterday, by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party accused the PDP of refusing to adhere to democratic principles and resorting to tactics of intimidation and fraud to influence the election outcome in their favour.

According to the APC, there are reports of plans by certain individuals within the PDP to manipulate the electoral process, including influencing electoral officers to tamper with voter registers, deploying individuals from the Park Management System (PMS) to engage in vote-buying and voter intimidation, as well as appointing PDP members as ward collation officers to disrupt the collation of results.

“Political watchers and patriots in the society are worried about the shameless conduct of most PDP elements in the state who move around to boast about the plans of their leaders and powers-that-be in the state to write results rather than allow votes to count in this Saturday’s council election.

“This set of anti-democratic elements told whoever that cared to listen that they owned OYSIEC,” the statement stated and that nobody, including security agents, journalists and accredited observers can stop them from declaring the PDP candidates as the winners in any of the wards and local councils.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we have uncovered some fresh plots by a cartel of desperados in the Agodi Government House to rig the poll in favour of the PDP. This, according to an impeccable source, would allow Governor Seyi Makinde to sustain his hold on the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“One of the plots is to influence most of the electoral officers in all the 33 councils to work with voter’s registers that have been doctored in such a way that most voters perceived to be either independent-minded or APC supporters would not find their names on Saturday and thereby disenfranchised.”

The APC, which also alleged that the goal of the tactics was to ensure the victory of PDP’s candidates in the election and solidify Makinde’s grip on the party ahead of future elections, urged all stakeholders, including the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) and security agencies, to uphold their responsibilities and ensure the integrity of the electoral process. It also called for vigilance to prevent any attempt to undermine democracy and the will of the people.