Osun Election: APC and Adeleke's camp trading wild accusations over police, voting plots

The Osun State governorship election is barely four days away and the war of words between Governor Ademola Adeleke's camp and the APC has reached fever pitch. Yesterday, both sides issued statements accusing each other of manipulating security agencies and plotting to disrupt the August 15 poll. This is the kind of pre-election drama that makes you wonder if anyone is actually thinking about the voters.

The Imole Campaign Council, through Bamidele Salam and Pelumi Olajengbesi, is crying foul over police interference, claiming at least six of their members have been killed in political violence and over 60 Accord Party members arrested without justification. They even shared a viral video allegedly showing a police operative handing a firearm to a political thug in Ilesa. Their quote: "It is nothing but mischief for the APC that has unleashed unimaginable violence on Osun people, killing no fewer than six of our members, to turn around to blame the victim." They are also alleging the APC is pressuring INEC to close polling units by 12pm in Adeleke's strongholds to suppress votes.

On the other side, the APC, through Engr Oluremi Omowaiye, is accusing Adeleke of plotting to hire vulnerable women, some instructed to protest half-naked, at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo to blackmail the police. They say police are simply investigating electoral violence and urge professionalism. Honestly, both sides are throwing everything at the wall. But the real question is this: if the police and INEC are this compromised before the election, what chance does the ordinary Osun voter have? Am I the only one that thinks both parties are more interested in winning at any cost than in the people's will?