A statement by an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Olubunmi Obeisun, vowing to rig the Obokun-Oriade Federal Constituency election in 2027 has sparked reactions in the Osun State.

Obeisun, the Chairman of Oriade Local Government Area in Osun State and ally of long-standing federal lawmaker from the constituency, Wole Oke, made the statement on Saturday at an APC event in the constituency.

Addressing APC members in Yoruba Language, Obeisun said, “The Ijebu-Jesa people worked against us and now they want to contest an election but we will also work against them. You can quote me anywhere, I Ezekiel Olubunmi Obeisun. If they win, I will rig it.”

The statement by the APC chieftain was captured on video and shared on Facebook by Oke, who has represented Obokun-Oriade Constituency in the House of Representatives in the last 24 years.

Reacting, Accord Party chieftain, Pelumi Olajengbesi, condemned the statement by Obeisun as anti-democratic.

Olajengbesi, who is also the spokesman for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign council, said, “I have just seen the video of APC’s Olubunmi Obeisun vowing to rig the 2027 House of Representatives poll for Wole Oke and the APC in 2027. This is anti-democratic, reckless and abominable.

“Security agencies should be alerted to the agenda of thuggery, hooliganism, intimidation, and violence that APC plots to use to arm-twist the democratic will of the people in the next election.

“However, let Obeisun, Oke and their co-travellers know that the people of Obokun-Oriade Federal Constituency are dogged and defiant against imposition politics, and they will defend their franchise at the poll. One thing is clear: they are tired of Wole Oke’s sit-tight syndrome in the House of Representatives for 24 years, and they want a new representation.”