With the November 11 governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states fast approaching, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sounded a resounding caution to political parties, sternly advising against the dissemination of fake news.
This stern message was conveyed by INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in an official statement emanating from the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The proactive stance from INEC came in response to recent claims made by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), suggesting that INEC was tampering with the electoral process. The SDP alleged that the commission was configuring Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines at the Government House in Lokoja, Kogi State, with an intention to manipulate the upcoming governorship election.
In response, INEC swiftly discredited these allegations as baseless and devoid of factual basis. Oyekanmi pointed out that the three individuals mentioned in the SDP’s statement have no involvement in the BVAS machine configuration process and are not currently in Kogi State. Nicholas Ocholi is stationed at the INEC office in Akure, Ondo State, while Ibrahim Egbunu is in Abuja, attending to a hospitalized family member. Additionally, Mohammed Adara retired from INEC last year and is no longer associated with the commission.
Oyekanmi clarified that BVAS machines were simultaneously and exclusively configured at INEC offices in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi by teams dispatched from the national headquarters in Abuja. He emphasized the importance of the public disregarding these false claims and urged political parties to refrain from propagating such malicious rumors.
As the election date draws nearer, INEC remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process, unmarred by the influence of fake news and unsubstantiated accusations.
