OSOGBO — Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has firmly denied allegations that he is plotting to rig the 2026 Osun State governorship election using the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, the former governor described the claims by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “false, malicious, and desperate.”
Oyetola insisted he has no influence over INEC, the Police, or the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, stating that the allegations are nothing more than a smear campaign aimed at distracting from the PDP’s underperformance.
“I have no control over the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Nigeria Police Force, or the Attorney-General of the Federation,” Oyetola said. “These allegations are baseless and should be seen as the dying gasp of a political party heading for another electoral defeat.”
He also challenged the PDP to present concrete evidence to back its claims, saying that in the absence of such proof, the public should disregard the accusations.
INEC Reaffirms BVAS Use, Flags Uncollected PVCs
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has reiterated that the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) remains a core part of the electoral process.
The Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, made this known during a media briefing in Osogbo, where he also revealed that 360,794 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are yet to be collected in the state.
Agboke clarified that the Supreme Court’s ruling on BVAS did not nullify its use but rather reinforced the importance of the voters’ register. He added that INEC retains the legal authority to deploy technologies that enhance election credibility.
“The commission has the power to deploy technology to deepen the process,” Agboke said. “Therefore, we can come up in 2027 with any kind of technology because we have the legal basis for it.”
He also called on the media to step up public awareness campaigns, urging eligible voters not just to register but also to collect their PVCs ahead of future elections.
