The Senator currently representing Oyo Central Senatorial district and candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the February 23 election, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, has petitioned the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mutiu Agboke, calling for the cancellation of votes in all polling units where card readers were bypassed during the election.
This was just as Sunmonu told Tribune Online in a telephone interview that she remained a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and had not rejoined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as being reported on social media platforms.
In her petition, which was also sent to the state Director of the Department of State Service and the Commissioner of Police, Sunmonu called for the arrest and prosecution of Electoral Officers, supervisory presiding officer, presiding officers at all the units where the alleged infraction was committed.
She alleged there was thumb-printing of ballot papers in Egbeda, Oluyole, Ona Ara, Oyo East, Oyo West, Afijio, and Atiba Local Government Areas prior to the election, adding that the already thumb-printed votes were used on the election day.
The ADC Senator also said the election was manipulated like a lot of people voted with fake and cloned PVCs, contrary to the guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that card readers be used and where they were sustained malfunction of the gadgets, voting should be postponed.
Sunmonu said all the alleged infractions done during the election were pre-arranged between the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Electoral Officers in the affected council areas.
“On the eve of the rescheduled election, we received an audio recording of a secret meeting held between one of the candidates and the Electoral Officers of INEC, wherein they extensively discussed their plan to manipulate the polls the following day.
“We implore you to listen to the audio attached to this complaint/petition and verify that what was discussed is actually what transpired in the purported election that held on February 23, 2019,” she said in the petition.
On her rumoured return to the APC, she said she would discuss with her supporters and followers if there would be any move, but added that she remained in ADC and not contemplating leaving the party anytime soon.
“Why will I go back to APC? All the issues we raised during the congress were not attended to. Why will I go back to such a party. I am in ADC and I am happy being in the party,” she said.
