Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, on Thursday exchanged allegations over an alleged scheme to purchase Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from residents ahead of the state’s August 15 governorship election.
Adeleke, through a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, accused the Osun APC of orchestrating a coordinated operation to buy PVCs and obtain the PIN numbers linked to the cards in a bid to disenfranchise voters during the election.
The governor warned against activities capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to investigate the alleged development.
According to the statement, intelligence available to the state government suggested that APC members were moving across parts of Osun to obtain PVC PINs from unsuspecting voters through financial inducements.
“APC agents are extracting the PIN numbers on the voters cards through offering of monetary rewards. I warn that the operation is targeting local governments with huge followership of the Accord Party.
The plot is to ensure massive dislocation of registered voters from their place of registration such as from one town to the other and thereby making it impossible for such voters to vote on the day of the election.
In some other local governments, the APC agents insisted on the voters swearing an oath to take inducement to secure the pin numbers or a photocopy of the voters cards, charging voters not to fall for an evil plot to deny them their voting rights.
“I task the electoral body not to look the other way. We have reports of insider collusion which we are still investigating.
Any link between the pin numbers on the voters card and manipulations of the voting process is a source of concern for us. We trust the electoral body to act,” the statement read.
Responding to the allegation, Oyebamiji, who addressed supporters at a rally in Osogbo after traders at Sabo Market endorsed his governorship bid, alleged that some individuals were also offering cash to voters in exchange for their PVCs.
He urged residents not to surrender their voter cards for money and promised to support traders with grants if elected governor.
READ ALSO: Osun 2026: APC’s Oyebamiji Welcomes SDP, PDP Defectors Ahead Of Polls
Making an apparent reference to the ruling party in the state, Oyebamiji alleged that those involved in the purchase of PVCs had neglected the people over the past three years and were now attempting to influence voters with cash.
He further said, “I, Munirudeen Oyebamiji, assure you that I will not disappoint you by the grace of God.
I urge you to keep your Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and never sell them to anyone. What some people are doing now is buying PVCs indirectly.
“They are inviting young people to local government offices under the pretext of offering appointment letters, collecting their account details and transferring money to them.
The money they fail to provide over the past three years is now being used to deceive the people. Do not be deceived.
“We will not make promises we cannot keep. I assure you that the Bola Munirudeen Oyebamiji administration will be an inclusive government.
We will consult with market leaders and communities, asking what is happening in Sabo Market, what your needs are, and what government should do.
We will not seek your votes and then abandon you after the election. Our government will belong to everyone.”
Osun voters are scheduled to elect a governor on Saturday, August 15. Adeleke is seeking a second term on the platform of the Accord Party, while Oyebamiji is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has also cleared African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam and 11 other candidates to participate in the governorship election.