Attempts by Osun APC to retract its several open threats to rig Osun forthcoming elections is an afterthought that won’t relax vigilance of voters, Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared.

Reacting to recent statements credited to the Osun APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji and the Marine Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola on the August 15 polls, the governor called the volte-face “a deceitful utterances designed to mask the failed, dark agenda to tamper with people’s will on August 15th.”

According to the governor, Osun people are not deceived by the pledge of the APC chieftains to support free and fair elections, noting that “the APC candidate and his supporters must apologise for their several posts and open threats to forcefully take over Osun government irrespective of people’s will on August 15th.

“The Osun APC campaign operatives have issued several warnings and social media posts to use federal might to override popular votes. What now changed that Mr Oyebamiji suddenly embraced free and fair elections? Why was the Minister also echoing similar lines?

“Members of the public take their assurances with a pinch of salt. The threats to free and fair polls persist. The determination of the Osun APC to secure power through the backdoor is still its main, hidden strategy. Attempt to paper over previous open threats is unacceptable.

“Osun APC must recommit itself to democratic ethos by abandoning its evil plot to disable Accord as a party; by stopping its agenda against my candidacy; by abandoning its deliberate financial strangulation of Osun grassroots; by apologising to thousands of Osun people who bear the brunt of its anti – people conduct; and by allowing federal agencies to operate impartially in Osun state”, the governor was quoted as saying.

While calling for eternal vigilance among all lovers of democracy, the governor commended the emergence of ward based anti-rigging squads and said Osun voters’ are demonstrating unwavering readiness to resist electoral robbery come August 15th.

The governor said the people are ready to combat technical and manual manipulations during the electoral process, affirming that “it is too late in the day for the Osun APC to whitewash its declared intention against the electoral will of Osun people.

“Myself, my team and my party are committed to mobilisation for a free and fair contest in which the votes of the people must count at all costs. As a man of the people, I am committed to peaceful contests devoid of violence and electoral banditry.

“I strongly believe that I have the backing of the overwhelming majority of Osun people at home and abroad to continue to pursue my innovative agenda which has repositioned the state as a model within the comity of nations. I am elated that the people have vowed to harshly treat electoral bandits before, during and after the governorship elections”, the governor was quoted as concluding in the statement.

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