No one is plotting to rig election in Ekiti - INEC
- INEC has reacted to the rumour that the commission is plotting to rig election in Ekiti state
- The commission said the allegation is untrue and baseless
- It also assured Nigerians of a free and fair governorship election in Ekiti
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described the news of an alleged plot by the commission to rig Ekiti state election as untrue and baseless rumour being spread to taint its impeccable reputation.
In a statement by the chief press secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the commission said it has successfully conducted elections into 180 constituencies since November 2015, Channels TV reports.
Oyekanmi said: “These include five governorship elections carried out in Kogi, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo and Anambra states. So far, nobody has accused the Commission of rigging any of these elections. All of the election results recorded so far testify to INEC’s ability to ensure that only the voters determine who wins an election.
READ ALSO: Secondary school in Bauchi shut down over illegal wedding ceremonies between students
“We wish to emphasize that it is impossible for the Commission’s officials, any individual or group for that matter to pre-load the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) or provide ballot papers for stuffing as alleged. Indeed, the SCRs which perform the three functions of identifying, verifying and authenticating the voter and the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) can only function on the Election Day.
“In addition to the results sheets that we issue to party agents at the Polling Unit and at every level of collation, the Commission also deliberately introduced Form EC60E to show election results at the Polling Units, which is the most important level. This form is posted at every Polling Unit after collation.
“To that extent, no INEC member of staff, no matter how highly placed, can rig an election in favour of or against any particular candidate or political party. This is as a result of the stringent processes and safeguards introduced by the Commission.
“It is not true as alleged that three INEC officials have been meeting with one of the candidates contesting in the Ekiti governorship election. The Commission has also not made any plans to hire members of any political party as Presiding Officers (PO), Assistant Presiding Officers (APO) or for any electoral position.
“Indeed, the Commission’s staff members have been working round the clock to ensure a free and fair election in Ekiti on July 14. It is thus unfair to associate them with an imaginary plot to rig the election. Rather than malign them at press conferences, the Governor should make any evidence of wrongdoing available to the Commission for appropriate action."
PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that two government officials were allegedly caught by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Ola Oluwa Muslim Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti, collecting Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from teachers.
The DSS officials acted on a tip off from the members of the public. The operatives got to the school at 9am on Monday, July 3 and arrested the culprits.
The report, however, said the school Principal, Sunmonu Olaoye, was not available throughout the time the DSS operatives were in the school.
Is Nigeria Truly the Poorest Country in The World? Omisore - Ex-Lawmaker Speaks | Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
