The Osun State House of Assembly has raised concerns over recent developments within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, warning that any attempt to manipulate the electoral process will be strongly resisted by the people.
Addressing journalists at a press conference held in Osogbo on Thursday, the Speaker of the House, Adewale Egbedun, said the lawmakers were compelled to speak out in order to defend democracy, protect institutional integrity, and safeguard the will of the people of Osun State.
The Assembly expressed concern over the sudden redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that credible information also suggests that further deployments of key officials, including the Administrative Secretary, Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers, and ICT personnel across the state, may be underway.
According to the Speaker, the development raises serious concerns about a possible attempt to influence the electoral process in the state.
He noted that the pattern of redeployments was suspicious, particularly when compared with neighboring Ekiti State, which precedes Osun in the electoral calendar but has not witnessed similar widespread changes among electoral officials.
The lawmakers also alleged that they had received credible information linking the developments to the influence of former Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola.
Despite the alleged moves, the Assembly maintained that no administrative changes or redeployments would override the will of the people of Osun State.
“We state clearly that no amount of administrative changes or deployments of interested officials will override the will of the people of Osun State,” the Speaker said.
The House further revealed that there were reports of alleged plans to compromise the electoral process in parts of the state, particularly within the Ife/Ijesa Senatorial District, through the appointment of members of the All Progressives Congress as returning officers and supervisors.
The lawmakers described such actions as unacceptable and warned that any attempt to undermine the credibility of the electoral process would be firmly resisted by the people of the state.
They stressed that any official deployed to conduct elections in Osun must strictly adhere to the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.
The Assembly also called on the international community, development partners, and observers of democratic governance to closely monitor developments in the state.
Reaffirming their commitment to democratic principles, the lawmakers insisted that the people of Osun State remain politically conscious and determined to ensure that their votes count.
They emphasized that the state would not accept any action from any quarter that could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
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