Accord Challenges INEC’s 385 Flashpoints Report, Says Ila Has No Kidnapping Record
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
The Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has questioned the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) risk assessment report identifying 385 flashpoints across the state, describing the document as misleading and capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
The party, while acknowledging the commitment of the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, to conducting free, fair and credible elections, called on the commission to review the report and investigate the consultant responsible for its preparation.
The call was made in a statement jointly signed by the Osun State Accord Chairman, Pastor Victor Babalola Akande, and the member representing Ila/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency, Hon. Clement Akanni Olohunwa, on Monday.
Olohunwa rejected the classification of Ila and Ifedayo Local Government Areas as kidnapping hotspots, insisting that Ila has never recorded any case of kidnapping.
“Till date, Ila Orangun has never witnessed any case of kidnapping. The two incidents recorded in Ifedayo Local Government occurred strictly in Ora, not across the entire local government. Following those incidents, security agencies moved in and peace has since been restored,” he said.
The lawmaker argued that the inclusion of Ila in the report raises serious questions about the accuracy of the entire assessment.
“The error committed by the inclusion of Ila in the report calls into question the veracity and truthfulness of the risk assessment carried out by the State INEC. The report appears to have misrepresented the security situation in Osun State. There is no way Osun could have 385 flashpoints,” Olohunwa stated.
He urged the Resident Electoral Commissioner to review the report and investigate the consultant responsible for compiling it.
“I urge the State REC to probe the consultant who handled the preparation of the report. Many things may have been cooked up and several false entries included. The report should be reviewed to ensure that election planning is not based on inaccurate information,” he added.
Also speaking, the Osun State Chairman of Accord, Pastor Victor Babalola Akande, said stakeholders across the state had expressed concern over the report, alleging that the figure of 385 flashpoints could be used to disenfranchise voters in some communities.
“Our state is peaceful. We do not have 385 flashpoints. We know the REC has good intentions, but she should review the circumstances surrounding the compilation of the report,” Akande said.
He also dismissed the report’s claim that Osun has about 200 inaccessible areas, describing the figure as exaggerated.
“Osun also cannot have 200 inaccessible areas. The figure appears inflated, and that further raises questions about the credibility of the report. We have received several concerns from stakeholders over the alleged flashpoints and we will engage the commission. We are confident the REC will review the risk assessment,” he said.