By Mojisola Oladele

The All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Accord Party in Osun State have traded allegations of vote-buying and electoral malpractice ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The two parties have also called on relevant authorities to investigate the allegations.

The Osun State chapter of the APC alleged that Governor Ademola Adeleke had concluded plans to pay N20,000 to civil servants, teachers, local government workers and other public servants to influence their votes in the election.

In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, the APC claimed the alleged payments would begin reaching workers’ bank accounts from Monday.

The party described the alleged move as an attempt to secure electoral support, urging workers to reject what it described as a “Greek gift.”

The APC also alleged that the state government had outstanding obligations relating to leave bonuses, pension deductions, cooperative deductions, health insurance remittances and trade union check-off dues.

It called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, DSS, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate the allegation.

However, the Osun State chapter of the Accord Party dismissed the APC’s claim as false and hypocritical.

In a statement made available to newsmen, the Osun State Accord Party Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, alleged that APC-backed operatives had been buying Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, and collecting voters’ Personal Identification Numbers, PINs, across the state over the past two months.

Pastor Akande said Governor Adeleke had no reason to induce workers, citing the administration’s record on salary payments, pensions, promotions and workers’ welfare.

The party further alleged that APC-backed operatives had been inducing vulnerable voters with cash and food items while collecting their PVC details and PINs.

It said the alleged incidents had already been reported to INEC and security agencies for investigation.

Edited by Maxwell Oyekunle

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