The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has strongly refuted allegations of rigging in the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states. The commission also issued a stern warning to political parties against engaging in the spread of fake news.
According to Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, INEC is deeply concerned about the dissemination of false information ahead of the crucial November 11 elections. Oyekanmi made these remarks in response to a statement from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which accused INEC of configuring Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines at the Government House in Lokoja with the intention of manipulating the outcome of the Kogi governorship election.
“The attention of INEC has been drawn to a statement signed by ID Ijele, the Director of New Media of the SDP governorship campaign team,” Oyekanmi said. “The statement alleged that three INEC staff members are currently reconfiguring the BVAS machines in the Government House, Lokoja, with the aim of favoring a particular candidate in the upcoming election. This allegation is entirely false. The three individuals mentioned in the statement have no involvement in the configuration of the BVAS machines and are not even in Kogi at the moment.”
Oyekanmi further clarified the status of the individuals mentioned in the SDP’s statement. “Nicholas Ocholi is currently fulfilling his duties at our Ondo State office in Akure. Ibrahim Egbunu is attending to a sick family member who is hospitalized in Abuja. Mohammed Adara, on the other hand, retired from the commission last year and is no longer a staff member,” he explained.
Oyekanmi emphasized that the configuration of the BVAS machines was carried out simultaneously and exclusively in the INEC offices in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi by teams deployed from the national headquarters in Abuja. He urged the public to disregard the SDP’s allegations as fake news and called on political parties to abstain from engaging in the dissemination of malicious rumors.
As the governorship elections draw near, it is crucial for all political parties and stakeholders to exercise caution and strive for transparency. The credibility of the electoral process depends on the fair conduct of the elections and the responsible behavior of all participants.
### NAN
