Osun: Adeleke  Warns INEC Against Bypassing Collation

By Saheed Olatunji, Reporter

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is planning to bypass the prescribed process for collating results in the ongoing governorship election, warning that such a move would be unacceptable.

Adeleke also accused the police of tear-gassing voters in Obaagun, Modakeke.

The governor made the allegations shortly after casting his ballot at his polling unit in Ede North Local Government Area.

Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the Accord Party platform, also expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious in the election.

He claimed he had received information that election results might be taken directly to the state collation centre instead of passing through the legally prescribed stages.

“I have it on authority that they (INEC) don’t want to go through the normal process of units to wards and to local government. They just want to take it all the way to the collation centre, and that is not acceptable,” he said.

The governor insisted that the electoral commission must adhere to the established collation process.

“They must follow the rule, and that is why I am alerting my people to watch out,” he added.

Adeleke, who expressed optimism about the outcome of the election, did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.

“I know, by the special grace of God, I’m winning this election,” he said.

The governorship election is being conducted across the state’s 30 local government areas, with voters electing a governor for another four-year term.

The poll has attracted heightened political interest, with security agencies deploying personnel across the state to maintain law and order.

INEC has consistently maintained that it is committed to conducting a free, fair and credible election in line with the Electoral Act and its operational guidelines.

As voting and collation continue, attention is expected to focus on the commission’s management of the results process amid scrutiny from political parties and election observers.