TheCable

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says nobody within or outside the commission can rig the forthcoming general election.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to INEC chairman, said this on Monday while responding to allegations made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP alleged that Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, was being compromised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the presidency with offers of huge sums of money, choice property and juicy appointments to his relations to rig elections in favour of the APC.

Oyekanmi asked the PDP spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, to substantiate his allegations, describing them as baseless.

He said: “Please ask him, where is the concrete evidence to support these new allegations? What does the country stand to benefit from this desperation to cause needless confusion?

“Did he attend the meeting where such incentives were purportedly offered to the INEC chairman? Does he have witnesses to support his assertions?’’

Oyekanmi implored Nigerians to henceforth disregard and ignore any unsubstantiated allegations by the PDP spokesman against the INEC chairman.

He said: “Rather than work with the commission to ensure that the general elections less than 30 days away are successfully conducted, it is very sad that some people are determined to cast aspersions on the good work that INEC has been doing in the last three years just for their selfish interests.

“Let me assure Nigerians that nobody within or outside INEC can rig the 2019 general elections.”

Oyeknami reiterated that in the coming elections, every voter must present his or her permanent voter cards and must be verified, confirmed and authenticated by the smart card reader before voting.

“Accreditation and voting will be simultaneously done as had been the case since January 2016 when the commission conducted the Bayelsa governorship election,” he said.

“It is important to also state that the commission adopted this method because it was recommended by all the local and international observers that covered the 2015 general election.

“This was after confirmation that more than two million voters did not return to cast their ballots after accreditation in that election for a number of reasons.

“Indeed, INEC is capable of, and will conduct free, fair and credible general elections. All we ask is for all stakeholders to play by the rules.”