“In my own case, I had problem thumb-printing the ballot. The ink was not impressing well. I later noticed that the ink disappeared from my thumb in less than 40 minutes. When I shared this experience with others, many had a similar story to tell. That was when we began to suspect that something sinister had been perpetrated,” the official said.
Efforts are currently being made by APC officials to test this allegation by experimenting with a few ballot papers, after which the party will decide on the next line of action.
When TheCable contacted the governor on phone, he confirmed that there was suspicion on the ballot paper and the ink but said he would not comment until “there is sufficient proof”.
The PDP candidate, Fayose, could not be reached on phone. He was yet to reply to an SMS at the time this report was written.
When TheCable contacted the spokesman of INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, he said he was “disappointed” that a reporter “who went to school” could ask him such a question on “tales by moonlight”. He declined further comments.
This will be the third time that allegations of “hi-tech rigging” would be made against INEC.
In the April 2011 presidential election, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) ─ which has now fused into the APC ─ alleged that INEC computers were programmed to discount votes cast for its candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the southern part of Nigeria.
Also, after the governorship election of Kogi State in December 2011, the Action Congress of Nigeria ─ which has also fused into the APC ─ said the poll was rigged “scientifically”.
PDP’s Wada Idris was declared winner after a keen contest with Prince Abubakar Audu, a former governor of the state.
Meanwhile, associates of Fayemi have told TheCable that the governor felt let down by the APC hierarchy in his unsuccessful re-election bid.
“Support came too late in the day for him,” one of the commissioners said, adding that the feeling inside government house in Ado-Ekiti is that Fayemi had been isolated by the powers-that-be in the party because he was perceived to be “too independent” and “growing in influence”.
“Fayemi’s major sin is that he looked at the lean resources of Ekiti and decided to focus solely on the development of the state. You can come up with many theories on why the election did not go in his favour, but we all know that if he had decided to waste the state’s resources, he would have won re-election and destroyed the future of millions of Ekiti children,” a commissioner said.
One of the factors listed to have militated against Fayemi’s re-election is his perceived interest in the vice-presidential slot of the APC which is said to have displeased Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is also said to be eyeing the slot.
“At no time did Fayemi put himself forward for any vice-presidential position. If people are doing permutations and decide to include his name, it has nothing to do with Fayemi. He was more focussed on the progress of Ekiti than personal ambition,” he said.
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Haba APC, leave those scientific matters and begin preparations for next year’s round of elections and also, 2018 guber polls. Let’s be sportsmanlike for once in Nigeria!
This is simply laughable. Why has the official not disclosed his name if he is so sure of the scientific abacradaba. The simple truth is that Many APC members are not. They are probably planted there by PDP. Oni’s case is a classic example. The votes must have been counted in the presence of both the APC and the PDP representative. I’m still at a loss how the votes will disappear in seconds? Did the representatives of APC not keep vigilance at the polls? This is bad belle protest
This is what Ekiti usually call ‘Irakata’ baseless and busy body excuses. While don’t we all have good sports man mind like the governor and allow the State to move on without wasting our money and time on court cases as Segun Oni did when he forged everything to his favour and later lost to Fayemi. At this point Fayemi proved to be a man of high integrity and no where to be compared with Oni. Even the blinds know that Fayose won, While searching for non-established scientific proves to send the State backward
APC like minded people will never accept defeat. Always excuses. Selection of candidates will always end up in losses because you will create and generate more enemies within for yourself. Ina country of no ideology in political lineage. It is always excuses to the end.
APC needs to move from noise-making to active politicking. For them to think they are ready for elections, while they could not formalize the party’s state and national structures was an error on their part. To be a formidable opposition, or ruling party, you must have grassroots support, and APC does not have that yet. It will take the party two election cycles to begin to consolidate its position in Nigerian politics; that is, if the ruling PDP will not return the country to military rule with their antics by then.
For now, the main focus of APC should be to get its leadership house in order and show Nigerians that they are truly an alternative choice in not only their programs, but their personality. Right now, it is not anywhere near there.
Each and everyone commentary is ok. But i will only differ where some people thought there might not be possibility of high tech fraud on the part of the election. if people complain lets investigate the veracity or otherwise.The trend of political brigandage in the country recently called for caution and it may easily lead the Nation to disintegration. It is unhealthy to coerce all citizens of a country to one political party. It is not done anywhere in the world.
APC should go to court. Somebody has said he voted with his family of 11 in a polling unit, but the result showed APC had one vote in that same polling unit. How is this possible? There must be some miracle going on there. Another report says, this same high-tech manipulation was used on Buhari and in Kogi state to defeat Buhari and Capt. Wada. It has to be proved if there’s some any truth in these allegations. True or false, the outcome will help to enrich democracy. I strongly support that APC should go to the tribunal if they suspect foulplay.
Let leave everything for God. I strongly believe that if Oshoko is in Fayemi’s shoe,He wiil not accept defeat because of the power that be.GEJ is working towards 2015 abandoning the Chibok girls.
I think there is d need to look into the allegation bcos we are all free as Nigerians for fair hearing and if it lacks merits then we throw it away
I want to believe all of those people clamoring for a court case were not in Ekiti while the election was on. I want to say this if in any case APC should go to court the little respect, fame and interest remaining in heart of the masses will completely be eroded away.
All hail gentleman Gov. Fayemi, he won the battle but lost the prize, because the Yorubas know the difference between Awo and Aki. Ikenne is not the same as Bourdilon . Asiwaju should keep off Osun to save Ogbeni.
There is nothing bad in investigation, especially when there is physical example of 11votes mergining to 1vote(lol….only in naija).
I want to advise APC to go ahead with their investigation so that this will not repeat itself in Osun State & the Country next year election. Unsuspecting public will fall victim if this trend was not check.
First and foremost, I will say APC is a perfect example of political disgrace to this country, however its not their fault. The genesis of all our political predicament in this country has to do with insincerity and greediness, poverty and shallow knowledge of our people is another means by which political ignorance is gaining ground here in Nigeria. The genesis of APC is based of deep enmity for the government of the day, rather than a progressive alternative. Any alternative that is born out of enmity can never be a progressive type. Now let’s talk ekiti, I don’t think Fayemi, Segun Oni and Niyi adebayo should be insincere to themselves by not understanding they have disappointed Ekiti pple in many ways, and Fayose has been the only Gov that understabd and listened to their yawnings. In one of my facebook post I said they said fayose is a scammer, but he has been able to make good history than Adeniyi Adebayo, Fayemi and Segun Oni combined. That’s why Ekiti will always welcom him at all time. To segun Oni’s Ascertion, if the ballot is a secret ballot, why would anyone wanna tell him who he/she has voted for? And segun oni’s integrity is not gauranteed anymore if he can go and pitch tent with his arch-enemy in 2011 guber poll. And about your ignorant computer analyst, who has refused to share his name, he/she will only subject APC to further disgrace, ask Aketi, he tried to bring one ignorant analyst, that fumbled woefully… I think APC need to reduce her noise, be sincere with the choice of flagbearer in all elections. APC should also work in grassroot more than how they make noise on radios and national dailies. I’m very sure APC will loose this case and many more because they are too lousy. And they are always busy doing nothing!