Oyo APC alleges plan by PDP, INEC to frustrate voters by relocating polling units

Ruling party dismisses the allegation as the commission seeks evidence

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State and major opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, made claims and counter-claims over the alleged plan to relocate polling units ahead of the 2023 governorship election to frustrate voters.

The APC had, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, claimed that the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were planning to change the location of some polling stations with a view to frustrating voters on the day of the election.

The opposition party also called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and all electoral stakeholders to beam the Commission’s searchlight on the activities of INEC members of staff, especially those in the Oyo State office, so that they do not allow some bad eggs to tarnish the commission’s hard-earned reputation or put into disrepute its concerted efforts at organising free, fair and credible polls.

In a counter-claim, Publicity Secretary of Oyo PDP, Akeem Olatunji, dismissed the allegation as a figment of the imagination of APC stakeholders.

He described the major opposition party as a propagandist, saying: “Makinde defeated them when they were one and now that they are scattered and with a very weak candidate, the incumbent has nothing to worry about.”

MEANWHILE, spokesman to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, urged those making the allegation to provide the Commission with concrete and appropriate information for necessary investigation.

In his reaction yesterday, Oyekanmi said: “For the first time in 25 years, the Commission, with the co-operation of all stakeholders, expanded the number of polling units in Nigeria from 119,974 to 176,846.

“The Commission also removed polling units from inappropriate places like homes of individuals, worship centres and shrines. It was a painstaking exercise that was preceded by months of preparations.

“Therefore, relocating a polling unit is a very serious matter for INEC and cannot be done by fiat.”

“Besides, the commission does not relocate polling units under the influence of a state governor or politicians.

“The commission’s officials cannot engage in what is clearly a breach of the commission’s code of conduct to relocate any polling unit under the influence of a state governor. No. That is not possible.

“However, I would advise those making this allegation to provide the commission with detailed information about the specific names and location of all the polling units allegedly relocated to enable us to investigate it.”