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Fayemi accuses Fayose, INEC of colluding to rig poll

By Ayodele Afolabi, Ado Ekiti
27 June 2018   |   3:31 am
Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation has accused top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conniving with Governor Ayodele Fayose to rig the upcoming election. The Deputy Director General of the organisation in Ekiti South, Bamidele Faparusi, made the accusation before newsmen in Ado-Ekiti. According to him, three top INEC functionaries from Abuja held…

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation has accused top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conniving with Governor Ayodele Fayose to rig the upcoming election.

The Deputy Director General of the organisation in Ekiti South, Bamidele Faparusi, made the accusation before newsmen in Ado-Ekiti.

According to him, three top INEC functionaries from Abuja held a secret meeting with Fayose at the Government House, while claiming to be on official duty.

He named the officials as Egharevba John, Festus Aisien, Igidiogu Kelechi and Ishaku Abbo, a former INEC staff.

Faparusi alleged that Ishaku, an election expert from the north, who had lived in the Government House since January, brokered the deal on Fayose’s behalf.

Faparusi further alleged that sensitive INEC documents had been illegally produced at the Government House with the help of some ‘unscrupulous’ INEC officials.

He listed the “documents to include stamps, Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), Result Sheets (Form EC 8A) and INEC Accreditation Forms.”

He urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and the Director General of the Department State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawan Daura, to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book.

Debunking the allegations, INEC Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Taiwo Gbadegesin, said the electoral body didn’t receive any official from Abuja.

He added that no INEC personnel visited the governor on any scheduled day, or on emergency invitation.

Gbadegesin assured the people that INEC would conduct free, fair and credible election, adding that the technology that had been put in place would make rigging difficult and unachievable.

“There is no form called ‘Accreditation Form.’ Accreditation would be done with Smart Card Readers. Although, the four people mentioned are INEC staff, they have not visited Ekiti for any reason.

“Let me also tell the public that form EC8A is with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and would be deployed in Ekiti with ballot papers. The forms are coded with serial numbers and can’t be duplicated by anybody.”

He urged the APC to make verifications before making unsubstantiated allegations

Meanwhile, the PDP has described the allegations as function of “a frustrated and desperate politician who is already smelling electoral defeat.”

A statement by the organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, Lere Olayinka said this yesterday in Ado Ekiti.

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