Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the August 9 election, Senator Iyiola Omisore have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allegedly engaging in sophistry over what it alleged to be “incontrovertible indictment of its two key staff in the rigging of the August 9 governorship election.”
The party said it was watching to see if the national headquarters of INEC would also consent to the alleged plot to cover up the involvement of its officials using a “nebulous administrative lapses”.
Two INEC officials were suspended over what the PDP alleged to be commission of electoral fraud and manipulation allegedly in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the August 9 governorship election.
Osun INEC had however; on Wednesday evening released a statement dismissing the allegations of fraud and malpractice being levelled against its two officials placed on suspension.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner {REC}, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje said that the two officials: Mr. Anthony Olusegun Esinloye were placed on suspension not over allegations of electoral fraud or malpractice but for their failure to adhere to INEC’s directive to report on time at some locations after the election to enhance the processing of the August 9 election results from their places of
assignment.
Media aide to Omisore, Mr. Victor Oriola, said, “Nigerians cannot be deceived by attempts to play with language. INEC should call a spade a spade and not farm implement. The Electoral Officer of Obokun who tampered with election materials meant for August 9 election was cleared by INEC on the ground that it was a minor misdemeanour. INEC should explain to Nigerians why minor misdemeanour now warrants suspension. Why are all these coming up again after the Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore filed his petition before the Tribunal?

“We want to assure our teeming supporters that we shall do all the needful within the ambit of law to retrieve the stolen mandate that was freely bestowed on the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore on August 9, 2014 from the impostors,” Oriola said.

However, the APC has berated the PDP for “perpetrating deceit, lies, and using all means to smear the APC that the party colluded with some elements in INEC to rig and win the August 9 governorship election.

Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of APC, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi however, said yesterday that the PDP cooked up the allegation of rigging to discredit the August 9 poll in order to provide legitimacy for its petition at the State Election Petitions’ Tribunal.

He noted that the unsubstantiated allegations against his party by the opposition had further exposed the alleged diabolical agenda of the PDP to fault the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

He said the PDP and its leadership would “continue to suffer defeat and disgrace in the state for as long as it continues to propagate deceit and lies about the goings-on in the state.”

Oyatomi noted that by its latest antics, “the PDP has again suffered the shame of being exposed as habitual liars in their mean attitude to political engagement in the State of Osun.”