A civil society organisation, the Advocate for Citizens’ Justice and Democratic Accountability, ACJDA, has faulted claims that the August 15 Osun governorship election was hacked to favour Governor Ademola Adeleke, describing the allegation as baseless and politically motivated.
In a statement by its coordinator, Comrade Mayowa Ogundijo, the group threatened to institute legal proceedings against the Liberation Movement of Nigeria and Vanguard for Human Rights over what it termed “false, defamatory and inflammatory statements.”
According to ACJDA, the hacking claim “lacks any credible, independently verifiable evidence and runs contrary to the facts on ground before, during and after the election.”
It further said: “The real story of the Osun election is how the people resisted attempts to undermine their democratic choice from the pre-election period through voting, collation and declaration.”
ACJDA insisted that Governor Adeleke’s victory reflected the choice of voters, not manipulation, “despite heavy vote-buying and other acts of desperation by the opposition APC.”
The organisation listed alleged attempts to compromise the poll, including reported theft of voter cards in Odo-Otin, shootings, intimidation, arrests of political actors, and vote-buying in Boripe, Irewole, Ilesa East, Ife Zone, and Osogbo Zone, particularly Olorunda/Oba-Ile.
“Yet, despite the alleged pressure, the people of Osun turned out to defend their votes. The people did not surrender their mandate,” Ogundijo said.
The group rejected suggestions of interference at the federal level, commending President Bola Tinubu and electoral institutions for allowing the process to proceed according to law.
It added that reports from local and international observers affirmed that the election reflected the will of Osun people.
“Attempts to delegitimise an election simply because the outcome is unfavourable are dangerous and capable of eroding public trust in democratic institutions,” ACJDA warned.
The CSO called on the two groups to withdraw the claims immediately or face legal consequences.
It also urged Osun residents not to be distracted by what it called a “jester coalition” seeking to create controversy after the polls.
“Democracy is not a game of propaganda where defeated narratives are resurrected through faceless platforms. Genuine grievances must be pursued through INEC, the courts and other constitutionally recognised channels,” the statement said.
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