Ekiti PDP accuses APC of plotting with INEC officials to manipulate ballot papers

By Lere Olayinka

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi of plotting to conspire with some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate ballot papers and other materials used during the June 21 governorship election, with a view to use the manipulated ballot papers at the Tribunal.

State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, who made this allegation in a release issued in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, said; "The APC is not new to what is known as 'ibo lehin ibo' (voting after voting), hence our decision to alert the public."

The party said it had it on good authority that some unscrupulous INEC officials were already being approached with millions of naira to carry out the devilish plan of voiding PDP votes, after which the APC will demand for ballot recount at the Tribunal.

The statement read; "Nigerians should be reminded of how four staff of INEC were arrested by the police on June 24,2011 at a hotel in Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East Local Government area while doctoring materials used in Ekiti East Constituency 2 House of Assembly election in 2011.

"Dele Ajibola of the PDP won the election, while Mrs. Anthonia Alaba Omonusi of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, was challenging his victory at the Tribunal.

"Subsequently, the four INEC staff, Ajayi Gbenga, Ojo Oluwafemi, Oni Babajide and Olusola Oladapo were arraigned in an Ado Ekiti Magistrate Court on eight count charge of alleged tampering with electoral materials used for the House of Assembly election in April.

"The prime suspect, Olusola Oladapo, an INEC Electoral Officer (EO) collected N180,000 from the ACN candidate in the election. He allegedly gave N50, 000 each to Ajayi Gbenga and Oni Babajide while Ojo Oluwafemi got N30,000.

"Interestingly, up till today, no one can say precisely what has happened to the four INEC staff and the case filed against them.

"This time around, having made the choice of who should be their governor, Ekiti people will not take any 'ibo lehin ibo' (voting after voting) from the APC and its INEC collaborators.

"Therefore, owing to the antecedents of Fayemi and his party men, we are calling on the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega to see to the safe-keep of the materials used during the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, especially the ballot papers and voters registers on which accreditations were done."