Osun Poll: ‘Order From Above’ – APC Agents Halt Counting Of Accord Votes At Oyetola’s Polling Unit

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have reportedly faced resistance from suspected All Progressives Congress (APC) agents during the collation of results at the polling unit of Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, in Osun State.

According to Ireporter Online, the incident occurred at the Lado Hill polling unit in Boripe Local Government Area during Saturday’s governorship election.

Reports indicate that no agent of the Accord Party was present at the polling unit to monitor proceedings when the counting of votes commenced.

A man reportedly wearing an APC identification tag allegedly confronted INEC officials and demanded that votes cast for the Accord Party be cancelled. He was said to have insisted that the directive came “from above.”

The presiding officer initially resisted the demand but was reportedly placed under pressure after police officers and other security personnel stationed at the polling unit moved away from the immediate area.

It was further alleged that the APC agent, alongside another unidentified individual, obtained electoral ink from INEC officials and used it to thumbprint ballot papers cast for the Accord Party, apparently in an attempt to render the votes invalid.

When the presiding officer eventually announced the results, the APC was credited with 242 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) received five votes. The Action Alliance (AA) polled two votes, while the African Democratic Party (ADP) secured one vote.

The allegations surrounding the handling of the Accord Party votes could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.

The development comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission continues the collation of results from the Osun governorship election, which featured 14 candidates.