Osun Poll: Accord, APC Trade Allegations Over Election Hacking

The Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress have clashed over allegations of plans to hack the electronic system of the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

The Accord Party made the allegation on Saturday in Osogbo, accusing the Osun APC of allegedly bringing people suspected to be election hackers into the state.

The allegation was contained in a statement issued by the Accord State Chairman, Victor Akande.
The party claimed it had received information suggesting that individuals allegedly brought from Lagos and Abuja were staying at a hotel in Osogbo, where they were said to be operating from.

According to Accord, the alleged plan was to interfere with INEC’s digital systems and manipulate election results before or during the poll.

The party called on security agencies to investigate the allegation and take action against anyone found to be involved in an attempt to compromise the election process.

Accord also urged INEC to strengthen the security of its electronic systems ahead of the election, warning that any attempt to interfere with the digital transmission or management of results could affect the credibility of the poll.

The party further appealed to security agencies to inspect the hotel and other locations where it suspected illegal activities might be taking place.
It said it remained prepared for the election and would mobilise its supporters across the state as the campaign entered its final stage.

The APC, however, rejected the allegation and described it as unfounded.
The party’s spokesperson in Osun State, Kola Olabisi, said the APC had no reason to engage in election manipulation because it was confident of securing victory through the ballot.

Olabisi accused the Accord Party of making the allegation out of fear of losing the election. He urged voters to disregard the claim and challenged Accord to report any evidence of alleged hacking activities to the police.

The APC maintained that it was not harbouring hackers at any hotel in Osogbo and said the allegation was an attempt to damage the party’s reputation ahead of the election.

The dispute comes just one week before the Osun governorship election, with both parties among the major contenders in the race.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has cleared 14 political parties to participate in the election. However, Accord, which is fielding the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the APC, whose candidate is former National Inland Waterways Authority boss Bola Oyebamiji, are regarded as the leading contenders.

With the election drawing closer, the latest allegations have added to concerns over the security and credibility of the electoral process in Osun State.

Both parties are expected to intensify their campaigns and mobilisation efforts ahead of the August 15 poll, while INEC and security agencies face growing pressure to ensure that the election is conducted fairly and that the results are protected from any form of interference.