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Following the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that last Saturday’s House of Representatives election in Oluyole Federal Constituency was inconclusive, Accord in Oyo State is demanding the cancellation of the entire result due to what it described as discrepancies in the number of ballot papers supplied for the election.
Accord, in a statement released by its chairman in Oluyole Local Government, Alhaji Akeem Adeoye, described the revelations coming from the election process in the federal constituency as a shock.
He said the election was conducted without sufficient ballot papers, adding that complaint was lodged with the AEO1, Mrs Oluranti Abidemi Ikudaisi, as well as the Electoral Officer (EO) that the election should be postponed.
“Despite the complaints, nothing was done and ballot papers were rationed to collation centres. The total number of ballot papers that should have been brought was 130,680 while a shortfall of 49,904 ballot papers was recorded. This became apparent because the senate and presidential ballot papers were 130,680 while only 80,776 was supplied for Reps election.
“Before this election,INEC has given the assurance that all the necessary materials will be supplied to all the polling units but what transpired in Oluyole Federal Constituency, if allowed to stand is purely a betrayal of trust by millions of Nigerians on INEC.
“With this, it is apparent that a lot of eligible voters have been denied their fundamental right of choosing a candidate of their choice and it was even reported in several media houses as captured in some polling units like Atere/Ilugusi,Agara,Ire Akari, Kasumu,Jogbin, Aba Ode and many others. In essence, a total of 49,904 eligible voters were disenfranchised in Oluyole Federal Constituency. This election result cannot reflect the wishes of the people and runs contrary to the provisions of the 2022 Electoral act.
“Having complained about the issue of ballot paper shortage for the House of Representatives and the violence that occurred at some polling units to the Returning Officer for Oluyole, Prof. Ehinola,he ordered that no results shall be announced pending the determination of the case. To our chagrin, we later discovered that the candidate of the APC for the HOR, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe has been parading herself as the winner of the poll.
“We are therefore asking that INEC should rise to the occasion and cancel the election purportedly held and that no result should be announced for the House of Representatives seat in Oluyole Federal Constituency of Oyo State,” he said.