A fresh political controversy has erupted in Osun State ahead of next Saturday’s governorship election, with the Accord Party accusing the All Progressives Congress of harbouring alleged election hackers in Osogbo.
Accord claimed that the individuals were brought into the state from Lagos and Abuja and had established an operational centre at a hotel in the state capital.
The allegation was contained in a statement signed by the party’s state chairman, Victor Akande, on Saturday.
According to Accord, the alleged hackers were preparing to compromise the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electronic system and manipulate results from the August 15 election.
The party called on security agencies to urgently investigate the allegation and apprehend anyone found to be involved.
Accord also urged INEC to strengthen its digital security systems ahead of the poll, warning that any attempt to hack or manipulate the election would be resisted.
“We also call on security agencies to raid the GMT Hotel and other illegal centres to stop the ongoing anti-democracy activities,” the party said.
The party further urged INEC to review its digital security arrangements and remain alert to possible cyber threats during the election.
But the allegation was swiftly rejected by the Osun APC.
The party’s spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, described the claim as “false and baseless”, insisting that APC had no need to manipulate the election to secure victory for its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
“The allegation that our party is harbouring hackers in a particular hotel in Osogbo is false without any foundation, and there is no basis for that,” Olabisi said.
He accused the Accord Party of making the allegation because it was afraid of losing the election.
“It is the fear of losing the election that is haunting the Accord Party functionaries who are peddling the information. It is nothing but a figment of the imagination of those peddling the rumour,” he said.
Olabisi challenged Accord to report the alleged operation to the police if it had evidence to support its claim.
The controversy comes just seven days before Osun voters go to the polls to elect their governor.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the governorship election for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Fourteen political parties have been listed to participate in the contest, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji widely regarded as the leading contenders.
The election is expected to be closely watched as Adeleke seeks another term while the APC attempts to regain control of the state.
The latest allegations have also placed renewed attention on the security of election technology and the transmission of results, particularly as political parties intensify their campaigns in the final days before voting.
However, neither INEC nor security agencies have publicly confirmed the hacking allegations contained in Accord’s statement.
The competing claims therefore remain a political allegation and denial unless independently established by the relevant authorities.
With the election only days away, attention will now turn to INEC and the security agencies to ensure that the voting process, result management and collation are protected from interference.
