A major political storm erupted on the eve of the Ekiti State governorship election as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of actions it says amount to an attempt to cripple opposition participation in the crucial poll.
SDP Dismisses Withdrawal Reports
The party dismissed as 'fraudulent and politically motivated' reports claiming it had withdrawn from the race, insisting that its governorship candidate, Ambassador Isaac Adebayo Alade, remains validly nominated and fully recognised by INEC.
In a strongly worded statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP alleged that while INEC officially issued the party with access credentials for the uploading of polling agents, the electoral body subsequently failed to activate the portal required to complete the process.
Outrage Over Alleged Sabotage
The development has triggered outrage within the party, which is now demanding answers from the Commission over what it describes as a disturbing contradiction capable of undermining the credibility of the election.
'Why issue access codes if there was never any intention to permit their use?' the party queried.
The SDP further asked why a legally recognised political party would allegedly be denied the opportunity to deploy agents across polling units, warning that such actions create a perception that the electoral process may have been tilted in favour of powerful political interests.
Political Observers Weigh In
Political observers say the allegations, if proven, could raise serious concerns about electoral transparency and equal treatment of contestants in the election.
Adding another layer of controversy, the party claimed that reports of its withdrawal from the governorship race were deliberately manufactured to mislead voters and create confusion ahead of voting.
According to the SDP, Ambassador Alade's participation in the INEC-sponsored Peace Accord process remains incontrovertible evidence that the party is actively contesting the election.
