INEC Speaks On Plan To Rig Governorship Election By Obidients, Sanwo-Olu, Tinubu In Lagos

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied having any form of communication with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, or the Obidients ahead of the governorship election.

The commission also denied the alleged plan to remove all Igbo and South staff in Lagos from participating as Adhoc staff in the state during the Saturday governorship and State house of assembly elections.

VerseNews Nigeria reports that in a statement by Mrs Tadese Adenike, Head of Department Voter Education and Publicity for Hon Resident Electoral Commissioner Mr. Olusegun Agbaje MFR, INEC, Lagos State, the commission stated that members of staff that are Igbos were all returned to work as collation officers in the Saturday election.

The statement however state the allegations were made to taint the reputation of Mr. Agbeje who has been sincere and dedicated to the services of the Commission and the citizens of Nigeria.

It therefore urged the general public to shun fake news and allow the Commission the perform its electoral duty.

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Read statement below:

 “INEC Lagos State read with great concern on the social media in respect of the removal of all Igbo and South Staff in Lagos State from Participating as Adhoc staff in the State during the fourth coming governorship / house of assembly election on 18th March. 2023.”

“It was equally alleged that “Obidient in Lagos, Sanwo Olu and Tinubu were on a call with the INEC REC, in Lagos State to finalise rigging plans for the gubernatorial election.”

“It has become imperative to correct the erroneous accusations in some quarters and put the record straight that the Adhoc staff (collation officers) engaged during the presidential and national assembly elections on 25th February, 2023 in Lagos State were 738 in number bearing in mind that three elections were held.”

“The forth coming governorship election will only require the services of 427 collation officers because of the two elections involved.”

“It is pertinent to state unequivocally that members of staff that are Igbos were all returned to work as collation officers in the forth coming governorship/HOA election scheduled for 18th March, 2023 while the SPOs maintained their positions.”

“The Hon, resident electoral commissioner for Lagos State Mr. Olusegun Agbaje MFR, mni did not at any point in time engage in any telephone conversation with the three candidates mentioned – Obidients, Samwo Olu and Tinubu in fact he does not have their telephone numbers.”

“Whoever that has information concerning the day and time of the said telephone conversation should not hesitate to make it public.”

“Going from the above frivolous allegations it is obvious that the orchestrated stories were fabricated to impugn INEC and taint the reputation of Mr. Olusegun Agbeje MFR, mni the Hon resident electoral commissioner INEC Lagos State.”

“Without mincing words Mr. Olusegun Agbaje MFR, mni is man of integrity, sincerity, fully committed and dedicated to the service of the commission and the entire citizens of Nigeria irrespective of ethnicity or political affiliation”.

“The public should shun fake news, misinformation and disinformation and allow INEC in Lagos to focus on the forth coming election in order to achieve the desired result.”

“The commission will continue to upload the fundamental principles of equity, fairness, transparency, credibility and accountability in line with the vision and mission to be a pre-eminent leader in deepening electoral democracy as an unbiased election management body.”

See statement below: