The party alleges an APC-linked operation to compromise INEC’s digital system, while the opposition party dismisses the claim as baseless
The Accord Party in Osun State has raised an alarming allegation of an attempt to compromise the Independent National Electoral Commission’s digital systems ahead of the August 15 governorship election, accusing the All Progressives Congress of harbouring alleged election hackers in an Osogbo hotel.
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Accord State Chairman Victor Akande made the allegation in a statement issued in Osogbo on Saturday, claiming that individuals described as hackers had been brought into the state from Lagos and Abuja to establish an operational base ahead of the poll.
The allegation was swiftly rejected by the Osun APC, whose spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, described the claim as false and baseless and said the party had no need to manipulate the election to secure victory for its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Accord alleged that the individuals were preparing to target INEC’s electronic system and manipulate results before they could be officially recorded.
“The hackers were brought in from Lagos and Abuja and they have set up an operational centre at the hotel. Their target is to compromise the INEC electronic system to impute fake election results into the INEC server,” Akande said.
The party called on INEC to strengthen its digital security arrangements and urged security agencies to investigate the hotel it identified as GMT Hotel in Osogbo, as well as other locations it described as possible illegal centres.
Accord also urged security agencies to act swiftly, arguing that any attempt to interfere with the integrity of the electoral process should be stopped before voting begins.
The accusation comes just one week before Osun voters are scheduled to choose their governor. INEC’s official election calendar confirms that the Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The election has increasingly become a closely watched contest between incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is contesting under Accord, and Oyebamiji of the APC. INEC has cleared 14 political parties to participate in the election, according to reports on the contest.
The political temperature in the state has already risen over allegations concerning the integrity of the electoral process.
In July, Adeleke accused the APC and its agents of attempting to buy voters’ cards and obtain their identification numbers in an operation he said could disenfranchise voters ahead of the election.
The state government urged residents not to surrender their voters’ cards.
The governor has also previously warned against what he described as scaremongering over alleged plans to manipulate the election, while maintaining that his administration was confident of winning the poll.
Against that background, the latest claim about alleged Osun election hackers has added another layer to an already tense political contest.
The APC, however, rejected the accusation outright.
“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 argued that the APC could win the election without engaging in electoral malpractice and accused Accord officials of making the allegation because they feared defeat.
“Our party does not need to rig any election before our candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, wins the election,” Olabisi said.
The APC spokesperson challenged Accord to report any evidence of alleged hacking activity to the police rather than making what he described as unsubstantiated public accusations.
The competing claims have not, so far, been independently established.
Neither the alleged hackers nor an operation to compromise INEC’s systems has been publicly identified by security agencies in connection with the accusation.
INEC’s official website confirms that the commission is preparing for the August 15 poll, including arrangements for election officials and accredited observers.
The commission has also maintained official digital platforms for election information, including voter verification and election results, making the protection of electoral technology an important part of preparations for the poll.
Cybersecurity concerns can have serious consequences for public confidence in elections, particularly where political parties make competing claims about the integrity of electronic systems.
However, allegations of cyber interference require evidence and formal investigation rather than political assertion alone.
For voters in Osun, the immediate concern is that the dispute does not overshadow the central democratic process: the right to cast ballots freely and have those votes accurately counted.
Accord said it remained prepared to mobilise voters and contest the election, while warning that any attempt to manipulate the result would be resisted.
The APC, meanwhile, remains confident that Oyebamiji can defeat Adeleke at the polls without any unlawful intervention.
With voting only days away, attention will now turn to INEC and the security agencies to address any credible threat to the election’s digital and physical infrastructure and to provide voters with confidence that the result will reflect the ballots cast on August 15.
The allegations by Accord remain unproven, while the APC’s denial is equally part of the political contest surrounding the poll.
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Any determination of whether an organised hacking operation exists would require evidence and investigation by the appropriate authorities.
Victory Emmanuel is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
