Lam Adesina calls for Oyo REC’s removal for ‘romance’ with Alao-Akala

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader in Oyo State Alhaji Lam Adesina has restated his call for the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Ayo Adakeja, over an alleged unholy relationship with Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Adesina spoke at a campaign rally in Egbeda/Lagelu local governments in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.

Adesina was reacting to the arrest of five persons, including a top official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Osunlola Akinyinka, for allegedly manipulating voters’ registers at a hotel in Ibadan on Saturday.

The suspects were caughtwith six Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines and other items reportedly linking some of them with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Adesina said: “We have evidence of Oyo INEC’s romance with the PDP and Alao-Akala. The governor picked the bill of Oyo electoral officers, who went for a seminar in Abuja on March 9. Alao-Akala lodged them at Optimal Hotel in Area 10, and Anglican Hotel, Zone 5, Abuja. The Chairman of the Electoral Officers Forum in Oyo State, Mr S.A. Ahmed, was said to have been given unspecified amount of money for their convenience.

“Up till now, the Civil Service Club in Agodi, Ibadan, gives Oyo INEC a stand, where members socialise freely on Alao-Akala’s bill. 

“The people of Oyo State are waiting for Adakeja to defend the allegations of corruption and complicity.”

Adesina warned Alao-Akala to curb the alleged excesses of his supporters, who were reportedly attacking ACN members, or face reprisal attacks.

He said: “No political party has the monopoly of violence. Alao-Akala and his people have resorted to violence and intimidation because they are no more popular and imminent defeat is staring them in the face.

“Saturday’s voters’ register scandal has further exposed their antics to rig this election. I urge ACN supporters to protect their votes by waiting at the polling booths until the votes have been counted and results announced.”

ACN governorship candidate Senator Abiola Ajimobi said: “Anyone who exonerates the PDP or Alao-Akala from the stolen INEC materials has to prove that the identity cards found on two of the suspects arrested cannot be linked to the governor.”