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ADC alleges widespread irregularity: Governorship candidate Najeem Salaam claims the party’s agents were not recognised in polling units across 10 local government areas despite submitting their names to INEC ahead of the election.
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Complaint escalates to authorities: Salaam says the alleged exclusion has been reported to the appropriate authorities for urgent intervention, warning that it could affect the credibility of the electoral process if left unresolved.
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APC candidate expresses confidence: Bola Oyebamiji commends voter turnout and the peaceful conduct of the exercise, insisting he is on course to win the governorship election.
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Candidates reject intimidation: While Salaam denies allegations of vote buying, Oyebamiji calls on security agencies to sustain professionalism to ensure a peaceful, free and credible poll.
August 15, (THEWILL) — The governorship election in Osun State took a dramatic turn on Saturday as the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) alleged that its party agents were being denied recognition in several polling units, while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji, declared confidence that he would emerge victorious.
The contrasting positions emerged after both candidates cast their ballots in separate polling units, with each expressing optimism about the outcome of the election.
ADC Alleges Party Agents Barred In 10 LGAs
ADC governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, who voted at his polling unit in Ward 4 at about 10:39 a.m., alleged that electoral officials failed to recognise accredited agents of his party in several parts of the state despite the party submitting their names ahead of the election.
According to Salaam, the alleged problem was reported in 10 local government areas, prompting the party to alert the relevant authorities for immediate intervention.
He expressed hope that the issue would be resolved quickly to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
The ADC candidate also rejected allegations that his party was involved in vote buying, insisting that its campaign focused on selling programmes and policies rather than inducing voters.
“We converse with the people, we let them know our programmes, and that is exactly what we do. Vote buying is out of it. I have never in my life bought votes”, Salaam said.
He maintained that the electorate should be allowed to freely choose their preferred candidate without intimidation or inducement, expressing confidence that the people of Osun would entrust him with the mandate to govern the state.
Oyebamiji Hails Voter Turnout, Predicts Victory
Meanwhile, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, voted at Polling Unit 11, Ward 9, Open Space Gantry Sawmill, Ikire, in Irewole Local Government Area, after arriving at about 10:45 a.m. with his wife, Sekinat.
Following his accreditation and voting, Oyebamiji commended the turnout of voters, describing it as a clear indication that residents were determined to participate in the democratic process.
He also praised the deployment of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security personnel, saying the election was progressing peacefully.
The APC candidate urged the police and other security agencies to remain vigilant throughout the exercise to guarantee the safety of voters and electoral officials.
Expressing confidence in the outcome of the election, Oyebamiji said he believed the poll would be credible and that he would emerge victorious at the end of the exercise.
Saturday’s governorship election is one of the most closely watched political contests in the country, with security agencies maintaining a heavy presence across the state and INEC overseeing voting across all polling units. Results are expected to emerge after voting ends, and collation begins across the state’s local government areas.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
