“Electoral Chaos in Osogbo: Labour Party Candidate Accuses Officials of Ballot Stuffing”

Allegations of electoral misconduct have emerged in Osogbo local government during the ongoing local government elections in Osun State. Barrister Bode Babalola, the Labour Party’s (LP) Chairmanship candidate for Osogbo, raised concerns over what he described as irregularities at Unit 4, Ward 7, accusing officials of stuffing ballot boxes with pre-thumbprinted ballots before they arrived at his polling unit.

Babalola told journalists that upon his arrival at the polling station at 9:30 a.m., there were no electoral officers present. He claimed that when the OSSIEC officials finally arrived, the ballot papers had already been thumb-printed and the ballots were ready in the boxes.

“I arrived this morning to find the polling station empty. Later, I received information that some influential PDP figures had convened a meeting with OSSIEC officials. I also discovered that ballot boxes in Units 7 and 16 had already been filled,” Babalola alleged.

The LP candidate further argued that when he confronted the electoral officials, they insisted that voting had started as early as 7:00 a.m. He contested that claim, asserting that no voters could have legally cast their ballots at such an early hour.

Despite these accusations, PDP Ward 7 Secretary, Kasali Nurudeen Olalekan, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the election process in the polling unit had been smooth and well-organized. Olalekan confirmed that OSSIEC officials arrived on time, and voting began by 8:00 a.m., with party agents verifying election materials before the process commenced.

“The election went smoothly, and voters participated peacefully in the process,” Olalekan stated.

However, some voters in other polling units claimed that the election did not take place in their areas. Reports also suggested that some polling units closed earlier than anticipated.

Meanwhile, OSSIEC Chairman Hashim Abioye criticized the Nigeria Police for arresting commission staff members who were on election duty. He explained that the delay in the arrival of electoral materials was due to police actions, including the sealing of the OSSIEC office, where the materials were stored.

“Because the Police sealed off our office, we were unable to provide accreditation materials on time. In units where materials arrived late, it was due to the police arresting our officials who were transporting them. New materials have been sent out, and voting is now continuing smoothly,” Abioye said, thanking the electorate for their participation.