A group within the Oyo state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “Oyo PDP like-minds” has alleged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Mutiu Agboke of hobnobing with the Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde to frustrate today’s Congress of the party in the state.
The coordinator of the group, Adewale Kolawole made the allegation while speaking with journalists on the complicity of the INEC on the ongoing congress.
According to him, “We wrote a letter to the INEC on the Congress and it was acknowledged but to our surprise, Agboke ordered all his staff not to sign our results from all the wards across the state.
“We wrote the letter 22nd September, 2021 to Resident Electoral Commission, Oyo State and signed by Acting Secretary (PDP) in the state, Biodun Oyesola notifying the INEC on the Congress.
“The letter reads, This is to notify you of the forthcoming congresses of our great party, The Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State as follows: Ward Congresses, 25th of September, 2021; Local Congresses, 5th of October, 2021; State Congress,16th of October, 2021.
The venues for the 351 wards and the 33 Local Governments are hereby attached. While the venue for the state congress will be communicated later.
We shall appreciate the presence of your men at these congresses to ensure a smooth and peaceful conduct.
“But to our surprise, when we got to INEC office across the 33 local government in the state, the door were locked, we got to know also that Agboke has ordered all the electoral officer to close all the INEC offices by 1:00pm and move to government house to sign the results of other faction.
“Investigation revealed that Barrister Agboke was seen at the Government House today Saturday around 2:00am in a meeting with the Governor. And we got to know that Agboke was given N10million by the Governor to frustrate our Congress of today.
“And the outcome of the midnight meeting and the N10million is what was playing out presently. We want to call on the National Chairman of the INEC investigate all these allegations against Agboke.
“This is not the first time Agboke will be meeting with Governor at the Government House. How come will the Independent National Electoral Commissioner that should be responsible to all political parties is only responsible to Governor Seyi Makinde instead of responsible to the PDP and other political parties.
“Agboke lacks integrity to oversee and conduct free and fair election in the state, we are appealing to the INEC Chairman without wasting more time to move him out of Oyo State before he set the state on fire.
“All other government agencies like Police, Department of State Security Services (DSS) cooperate and perform the responsibility dutifully but the INEC refused to their statutory responsibility. INEC should be neutral umpire but in this case of Agboke is taking side with faction of the PDP led by Seyi Makinde because of N10million gratification”.
