APC, Accord Trade Allegations Over Osun Poll As INEC Dismisses Electoral Officers Accommodation Claim

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party in Osun State on Saturday traded accusations over alleged plans to compromise the August 15 governorship election, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dismissing the claims raised by the ruling party as unlikely to be true.

The controversy began after the Accord Party alleged that the APC, in collaboration with a section of the Nigeria Police Force, was plotting to secure accommodation for local electoral officers across the 30 local government areas of the state as part of a plan to manipulate the outcome of the election.

In a statement issued by the state chairman of the party, Pastor Victor Akande, Accord claimed it had received credible reports that the Osun APC held a meeting in Osogbo on Friday night and resolved to direct Divisional Police Officers, through the Commissioner of Police, to arrange accommodation for electoral officers in each local government.

According to the party, the alleged plan was to use the facilities as “safe havens” where election results would be written before being announced as official results.

Accord urged INEC to reject what it described as an attempt to compromise its officials, while also accusing the police of gradually shifting from alleged partisan activities to direct interference in the electoral process.

“We view with grave concern this sinister plot, and we call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to reject any attempt to rope its officials into garrison accommodation for election rigging. Osun people reject any attempt to write election results from barricaded hotel rooms under police illegal operations,” the statement read.

The party further alleged that the police had no constitutional role in providing accommodation for electoral officers and warned against any action capable of undermining the credibility of the election.

However, the Osun APC dismissed the allegation as false, describing it as a fabrication borne out of fear of defeat by the Accord Party.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, the APC said the allegation existed only in the imagination of the Accord leadership, insisting that its governorship candidate had no need to manipulate the electoral process to secure victory.

“The allegation is false, which only exists in the imagination of the leadership of the Accord Party in Osun State. It is borne out of the fear of the imminent loss of the party’s governorship candidate, Governor Ademola Adeleke, in the forthcoming August 15, 2026 election,” the APC stated.

The opposition party accused the Accord leadership of manufacturing excuses ahead of the poll and alleged that the ruling party had continued to misinform the public with falsehoods.

Amid the exchange, INEC dismissed the allegation, saying its operational guidelines make such a scenario unlikely.

Speaking with journalists at the commission’s headquarters in Osogbo on Saturday, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, said all ad hoc staff and election officials would be accommodated at designated Registration Area Centres (RACs) a day before the election, alongside security personnel.

“I know it is an allegation, and it is not likely to be true, because we have our RAC centres, and that is where our ad hoc staff is going to be accommodated with all the things that we need. Not only will the ad hoc staff be there, but the security agents will also be there. All our ad hoc staff will be there, and other officials of INEC at all levels will be there, and this will happen a day before the election,” Amupitan said.

He explained that the commission could not afford to lodge officials in different locations because they must be deployed to polling units between 7:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on election day.

“They must get deployed to the polling unit by 7:00-7:30 a.m., so we cannot afford to scatter them. They are accommodated and housed at the RAC centre. So we cannot afford accommodation that will take our materials anywhere. Nonetheless, we will also put it as part of the risk factors,” the INEC chairman added.

The August 15 governorship election is expected to be keenly contested, with political parties intensifying campaigns and trading accusations as preparations for the poll gather momentum.