By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied allegations that its governorship candidate in the August 15 election, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, engaged in vote-buying, describing the claims as fabricated, baseless and unsupported by credible evidence.
It also took a swipe at some prominent supporters of the Accord Party, including Dr Deji Adeleke, singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and Senator Dino Melaye, over what it described as contradictory allegations concerning the amount allegedly spent by the APC to induce voters during the election.
Oyebamiji polled 444,815 votes in the election, according to figures cited by the APC, while Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party scored 511,067 votes to secure re-election.
In a statement signed by the APC Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, the party said it had heard “so many versions” of the allegations but maintained that none had been supported with credible evidence.
The party described the accusations as “beer parlour talk” that should not be accorded serious consideration.
“It was disheartening that some respected members of the public could mortgage their status for political idle talks to turn themselves into purveyors of falsehoods in order to misinform the innocent members of the public,” the statement said.
The APC particularly questioned the varying financial figures allegedly cited by Deji Adeleke, Davido and Melaye as the amount spent by the party on vote-buying.
According to the APC, Deji Adeleke was reported to have alleged that the party spent ₦70 billion on vote-buying, while Davido allegedly put the figure at ₦120 billion and Melaye at ₦60 billion.
The party said the disparity in the figures demonstrated what it described as a lack of coordination among those making the allegations.
The APC challenged the three personalities to provide evidence to substantiate their claims and explain the basis for the figures they quoted.
The party also alleged that there were instances of vote-buying by supporters and agents of the Accord Party during the election, claiming that photographs and video recordings purportedly showing such incidents had circulated on social media.
The APC said it was therefore ironic for its opponents to accuse the party of vote-buying while allegedly ignoring similar accusations against their own political camp.
The party further questioned certain payments made to public workers and other categories of residents shortly before the election.
It specifically challenged the Accord Party and its supporters to explain the purpose of a reported ₦20,000 payment made into the salary accounts of Osun State workers three days before the election.
The APC also questioned a reported ₦50,000 payment made to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state shortly before the poll.
The party further alleged that some pensioners benefited from cash payments before and during the election, describing the alleged payments as part of what it termed an “obnoxious political game.”
.
The APC challenged Deji Adeleke, Davido and Melaye to explain why such payments should not be regarded as inducement if they were made shortly before the election.
“Why is it that Dr. Deji Adeleke, Davido and Melaye are wrongfully and mischievously accusing our party of what the Accord Party is visibly guilty of to the consternation of those having capability to think properly?” the party asked.
The APC maintained that its candidate and party did not engage in vote-buying during the election.
“Our party did not engage in vote-buying during the election,” it declared, accusing what it described as handlers of the Accord Party of desperation to secure the re-election of Governor Adeleke.
The opposition party alleged that its political rivals resorted to actions it considered morally and constitutionally unacceptable in their bid to retain power.
The APC said it remained prepared to defend its position and challenged those making the vote-buying allegations to provide verifiable evidence rather than relying on what it described as unsubstantiated claims.
