Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has claimed that there is a plot to disrupt the ongoing governorship election, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of bringing a police officer from Port Harcourt to allegedly interfere with the voting process in his hometown, Ede.

Adeleke made the allegation shortly after casting his vote at Unit 009, Ward 2, Ede North Local Government Area, on Saturday.

The governor urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and other security agencies deployed for the election to closely monitor the activities of the officer he identified as “London” and ensure that nothing is done to undermine the electoral process.

According to Adeleke, the officer was allegedly brought into Osun State from Port Harcourt by the APC to disrupt voting, particularly in Ede.

“It’s going well and I hope it continues like that, but I got some information from my people in Osun State. There is one police officer called London from Port Harcourt. They brought him to come and disorganise the vote.

“So, I am calling on the Inspector-General of Police and all the security agents to watch out and be on the lookout.”

Adeleke further alleged that the officer was brought into the state as part of a plan to destabilise the election in Ede and interfere with the established process for the collation of results.

He said the security authorities must ensure that election results follow the prescribed process from polling units to wards and then local government areas before reaching the appropriate collation centres.

“The APC in Osun brought him to come and destroy my town. The Police Commissioner, the DIG overseeing the election should take note, and all my people in Ede should watch out.

“I have it on authority of information that they don’t want to go through the normal process from units to wards and to local government. They just want to take it all the way to the collation centre, and that is not acceptable.

“They must follow the rules, and that’s why I am alerting my people to watch out. I know, by the special grace of God, that I am winning this election.”

Police: IGP Has Right to Deploy Officers

Reacting to Adeleke’s allegation, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, said the Inspector-General of Police has the authority to deploy any serving police officer to the state as long as the individual is a legitimate member of the force.

Gotan, however, did not specifically address the governor’s allegation that the officer was deployed to interfere with the election.

“The IGP has the right to deploy anyone, so far they are a police officer,” the commissioner said.

Adeleke’s allegation comes amid heightened political tension surrounding the Osun governorship election, with political parties and stakeholders closely monitoring the activities of security agencies and the conduct of the poll.

The governor also called on the police hierarchy and other security agencies to protect voters and electoral officials from intimidation and ensure that the established electoral and collation procedures are strictly followed.

He urged residents of Ede to remain vigilant but did not provide further details of the alleged officer’s identity or the specific evidence supporting his claim.

The election is being conducted across the 30 local government areas of Osun State, with voters choosing among candidates in a keenly contested race.

As voting and collation activities progress, Adeleke’s allegation is expected to intensify scrutiny of security deployments and the handling of election results in the state.