INEC Debunks Over-Voting Comment In Osun Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports that its Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, said there was over-voting during the July 16, 2022 governorship election in Osun State.

Head of the Department, Voter Education, Publicity and Inclusivity in Osun State INEC office, Mr Adewale Francis, stated that the over-voting statement credited to Agboke was incorrect and mischievous.

Dr Agboke who visited Oba Akanbi in Iwo on Tuesday while he was explaining the workings of the BVAS machines, was reported in some media (The Nigerian Voice excluded) to have said that the BVAS machines were used or manipulated by some INEC staff and politicians to commit over-voting during the governorship election in Osun.

Reacting, Mr Adewale Francis said, “The attention of the Osun State office of INEC has been drawn to media reports that the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, purportedly said that there was over-voting during the election.

“The report is incorrect and mischievous.
“The REC only explained the efficacy of the Biomodal Voters Accreditation System as a device for the accreditation of voters when he visited the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi.

“Any extrapolation to the contrary is outside the context of the statement and should be disregarded.

“We implore the media to always verify their source of information before publication,’’ he stated.

It would be recalled that the state election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Terste Kume nullified the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party on January 27, after the court deducted some votes it described as over-voting.