...stop accusing us of what you are doing – APC
Adebayo Adenrele
The governorship campaign organisation of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ekiti State has accused elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly collecting voters’ personal identification details and deploying individuals in fake Amotekun uniforms to influence the forthcoming June 20 governorship election.
Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the Director of Communications, Media and Publicity of the Ambassador Dare Bejide Campaign Organisation, Rt. Hon. Olugboyega Aribisogan, claimed that voters were being approached for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), National Identification Numbers (NINs) and in some cases, Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), especially in Ado, Ikole Local Government Areas of the state, in exchange for cash, food items and other palliatives.
Aribisogan described the alleged practice as voter inducement and an attempt to compromise the integrity of the electoral process, while also alleging that armed thugs were being dressed in fake Amotekun Security Network uniforms to intimidate voters, disrupt polling units and discredit the regional security outfit.
The Director urged security agencies and Amotekun authorities to identify and arrest anyone found wearing the uniform without authorisation.
His words, “Across several LGAs in Ekiti, our party has documented a pattern where agents and foot soldiers of the APC are moving from house to house and polling units demanding the collection of PVCs and National Identification Numbers, NIN, from voters. They promised cash, food items, or welfare support in exchange.
“This is a direct violation of Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022 which prohibits voter inducement and the seizure of voter cards. The aim is clear: disenfranchise citizens, harvest PVCs, and use them for thumb-printing and multiple voting on election day.
“No citizen should surrender their PVC or NIN to any political party agent. Your PVC is your power. Once you give it up, you give up your voice.
“We have credible intelligence and video evidence of armed thugs being kitted in fake Amotekun Security Network uniforms. These individuals are being trained and mobilized to intimidate voters, snatch ballot boxes, and attack polling agents on election day.
“Amotekun was created by the South West governors to protect lives and property. Impersonating Amotekun officers is not only criminal under the Ekiti State Security Network Law, it is also a deliberate plot to confuse voters and discredit a regional security outfit that Ekiti people trust.
“We call on the Amotekun Corps Commander in Ekiti and the Police to immediately identify and arrest anyone found wearing Amotekun uniform without authorization”.
In his reaction, the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, debunked the allegations as untrue, saying APC is not involved in any of the allegations.
Olatunbosun described the allegations as laughable, saying they are accusing APC of what their own party is doing.
“None of those allegations are true, they are only accusing us of what they are doing. They should adhere to strict rules of law and stop trying to gain attention.
“The Governor is a peace loving person, with character in leadership and intelligence in the governance of the state”.
