The Independent National Electoral Commission in Osogbo the Osun State Capital on Thursday dismissed media reports that its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Mutiu Agboke, said there was over-voting during the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the state.
Head of Department, Voter Education, Publicity and Inclusivity Adewale Francis, stated that the over-voting statement credited to Agboke was incorrect and mischievous.
According to him, the REC only explained the efficacy of the Biomodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) as a device for the accreditation of voters when he visited the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi.
He said any extrapolation to the contrary is outside the context of the statement and should be disregarded.
He implored the media to always verify their source of information before publication.
Dr Agboke had reportedly visited Oba Akanbi in Iwo on Tuesday when he explained the workings of the BVAS machines.
He was, however, reported by some quarters as saying the BVAS machines were used or manipulated by some INEC staff and politicians to commit over-voting during the governorship election in Osun.
An election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Terste Kume, nullified the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Jan. 27.
It declared Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the actual winner of the election.
It declared also that there were over-voting in 10 of the 30 local government areas of the state during the election.