By JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

ABUJA — AHEAD of the 2014 governorship election in Osun State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega of colluding with the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to rig the election in the state.

The Osun State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, said that the alleged plot between the ACN and INEC to rig the 2014 election in the state had already received the blessings of Prof. Jega who was using the state Resident Electoral Commissioner to execute the plot.

According to the statement issued by the PDP state Chairman, “The plan which has the blessing of Prof. Atthairu Jega is to be executed through the retention of a compromised Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Oluwatoyin Akeju even when a court has ordered his removal because of partisanship and established bias.

“The general public should note that prior to 2011 general elections in Osun State, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, and the Peoples Democratic Party had opposed the appointment and posting of Mr. Akeju to Osun State on the ground that he was not only an aide of Senator Bola Tinubu but also a card carrying member of the ACN.

“The PDP members had posited that in all truly impartial electoral commissions, an umpire should be above doubt and likely bias to protect the integrity of the voting process. Akeju`s appointment and posting to Osun State was a violation of provision of integrity and impartiality of Resident Electoral Commissions enshrined in the constitution.”

Alhaji Olaoluwa said that 37 members of PDP had approached the court seeking an order to stop Akeju before the 2011 elections, adding that, “the court not only issued an interlocutory injunction but specifically ordered INEC to replace Akeju before the 2011 elections in the state.

Reacting to the allegation, INEC Chairman through his Press Secretary, Kayode Idowu said, “INEC is not in the business of joining issues with political parties, they say all manners of things.”

Idowu explained that there was an Interlocutory Injunction on the matter pending the determination of the appeal and that it was the prerogative of political parties to make all manners of claims.