The African Democratic Congress, ADC, governorship candidate, Dr Najeem Salaam, has raised concerns over the alleged non-recognition of the party’s agents at several polling units in the ongoing Osun State governorship election.
Salaam expressed raised the alarm after casting his vote at Ward 4, Unit 13, Ejigbo, in Ejigbo Local Government Area of the state.
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He described the alleged development as worrisome and disturbing, saying the names of the party’s agents have been uploaded onto the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, platform ahead of the election.
According to him, “ADC agents in Ward 5, Ejigbo, were allegedly not issued identification tags despite the party submitting their names through the required process.”
Salaam said similar reports had emerged from about 10 local government areas across Osun State, raising concerns over the presence of the party’s representatives at polling units.
“The report that my agents are not being recognised at most of the wards across the state is worrisome and disturbing.
“Despite the fact that we uploaded all the names of our party agents, especially here in Ejigbo, the agents in Ward 5 for the ADC were not given tags. The same thing happened in about 10 local governments across the state,” he lamented.
Salaam who said he had reported the matter to the relevant authorities and that the issue was being examined, stressed that party agents should be present during the counting of votes.
“I reported the matter to the relevant authorities, and they are looking into it. When the votes are being counted, it is necessary for my agents to be recognised at the polling units,” he said.
The ADC candidate, however, said voting in Ejigbo Local Government Area had proceeded without any crisis as of the time he spoke, expressing hope that the process would remain peaceful until the conclusion of the exercise.
He said he might address journalists again at the end of the election to provide an update on the alleged non-recognition of ADC agents, adding that the party expected a fair process.
“If there is a fair election, with no rigging or manipulation, and there is a level playing field, I trust my God that I’m going to win the election. The ADC had campaigned on its programmes and rejected vote-buying,” he stated.
