The Action Peoples Party (APP) in Osun State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen the security of its technological systems ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.
The party also warned against any form of manipulation capable of undermining the credibility of the forthcoming poll.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Osun State Chairman of the APP, Odesola Oluseye Titus, urged INEC to take proactive measures to safeguard all technology-related aspects of the electoral process against fraud and unauthorised interference.
According to him, the electoral body should ensure rigorous verification of the voters’ register, proper functionality of card readers, and stronger protection of electoral data.
“We urge INEC to take immediate action to ensure that all the technological systems related to the electoral process are secured against fraudulent activities. This includes rigorous verification of the voters’ register, the proper functioning of card readers, and safeguarding against unauthorised access to data,” he said.
Titus further called on the commission to remain vigilant in addressing any technical challenges that may arise during the election, stressing that all eligible voters must be allowed to participate freely and fairly.
“We call on INEC to uphold its responsibility to the citizens and ensure that the electoral process is transparent, credible, and free from any form of technical tampering,” the statement added.
The APP said its concerns were informed by reports of alleged technical irregularities during the recent Ekiti State governorship election.
According to the party, reports from the Ekiti poll raised questions about the reliability and transparency of some electoral processes, necessitating greater scrutiny of the technology deployed in future elections.
“The residents of Osun State have observed with increasing alarm the alleged technical irregularities that were reported during the recent Ekiti State Governorship Election,” the party stated.
The APP warned that the people of Osun State would resist any attempt to manipulate the democratic process through technological means, insisting that the integrity of elections must be protected.
“We want to emphasise unequivocally that the people of Osun State will not tolerate any form of technical rigging or manipulation that compromises the democratic process.
“The people of Osun State are watching closely, and we will not hesitate to mobilise against any strategies aimed at disenfranchising voters or manipulating the August 15 governorship election result,” Titus said.
The party expressed optimism that INEC would provide assurances that the governorship election would be conducted in accordance with the highest standards of transparency, integrity and fairness.
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