.Centre for Human Rights accuses INEC of double standard
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo and Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja
Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation has raised the alarm that the leaders of the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osogbo, Ile Ife and Orolu are being arrested while the supporters of the party are being attacked by thugs sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is coming as the Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolutions, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of double standard over Osun governorship election.
The campaign organisation has also called on its followers and lovers of democracy to watch the ongoing crackdown on PDP leaders at Osogbo,Ile Ife and Orolu in preparation for the grand plot to rig the supplementary polls on Thursday.
In a statement issued yesterday by thé Director, Media and Publicity of the organisation, Mr. Olawale Rasheed, the group alleged that several leaders of the PDP have been arrested while party supporters are at the mercy of APC thugs.
According to Hum “this morning around Alekuwodo,Osogbo, PDP members were matcheted with gunshots booming all over the town.”
He also added that” in Osogbo ,a top leader of the party,Alhaji Fatal Diekola was arrested, rough handled and beaten up despite his ill health. His aides were matcheted. Other PDP leaders at Osogbo are being harrassed with many of them unable to sleep in their respective houses.”
At Orolu, hé said the situation was the same as APC thugs struck yesterday morning and beat up PDP leaders.
According to him, the hooded thugs stormed the meeting of PDP leaders and unleashed violence on innocent party members reviewing the recent polls.
“APC in a grand plot to steal the mandate of the people had also been threatening voters in the seven units slated for Thursday polls. In several cases reported to party situation room yesterday morning, some voters were offered N10,000 in return for their PVC details. Refusal of such offer is followed with threat of action.”
He said the party also learnt that the cloning of PVCs was ongoing at the Government House, Osogbo, saying the PVCs of the affected areas have been tampered with through INEC database, adding that these were done to manipulate the supplementary polls
Olawale therefore called the attention of the local and international election observers to the continuation of electoral impunity and denial of fundamental human rights to PDP leaders in Osun State describing the developments as active threats to democracy in Osun state and Nigeria
“After the electoral body’s unprecedented coup against democracy, agents of slave drivers and their party, the APC, have continued their unholy plot to detail the will of the people. Osun people are resisting and they will continue to do so until their governor-elect is confirmed.”
Meanwhile, the Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolutions, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of double standard over Osun governorship election.
This accusation was contained in a communique issued yesterday at the end of one -day workshop on the “Role of Media and Civil Society Organisations on Anti- corruption, Transparency and Accountability in Election” held in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The communique which was jointly signed by the Executive Director, Idris Miliki Abdul, and the NUJ Chairman, Kogi State Chapter, Adeiza Momoh Jimoh stated that INEC as a body needs to explain to the people of Nigeria and Kogi State in particular, the rationale behind the declaration of the Lokoja/Koton Karfe House Representatives by- election as conclusive whereas the same scenario in the gubernatorial elections in Osun State was declared inconclusive.
According to the Communique, INEC’s guidelines and Electoral Act were not adhered to during the Kogi State by-elections when compared to the Osun State gubernatorial elections.
“The media and the civil society have joint responsibility in anti-corruption, transparency and accountability in elections. Therefore they must work together and built synergy.
“The participants also demand for the immediate initiation of the process that will lead to the conduct of the Local Government elections in Kogi State as provided for in the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the group added.
The communiqué noted that the non-conduct of local government elections in Kogi State in the last two years is tantamount to corruption that negates the principle of accountability and democracy.
