By Oladipo Airenakho
Benin City, Nigeria – With less than twenty hours to the commencement of Edo State governorship poll, the state branch of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has raised the alarm, alleging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) complicity with a rival political party to rig the election.
Mr. Chris Nehikhare, PDP’s spokesman in Edo State alleged that a staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was spearheading the compromise of several other officials of the electoral umpire to rig the election in favor of his party’s political rival.
At a press briefing inside the state headquarter of his party Today, Mr. Nehikhare alleged that one Mrs. Pricilla Sule, a senior Public Relations staff of INEC at the state headquarter in Benin City was at the forefront of the scheme expected to do the magic in at least 9 local government areas of the state.
According to his allegation, the INEC staff is coordinating the rewriting and switching of result sheets to favor a particular rival political party in the election.
Mr. Nehikhare specifically alleged that the sum of N2 million each was being offered to INEC Supervisors to alter and re-write results in favor of a rival political party in the Governorship race.
Other high level INEC officials also mentioned in the alleged fraudulent scheme by the PDP image maker, include a National Commissioner, Mrs. Amina Zakari, Delta state Resident Electoral Commissioner, and a Mr. Ken who is Deputy Director of Operations in INEC.
He warned on the consequence of their alleged actions and said if any of those mentioned and such others thinking of same attempts to carry out any of the mentioned electoral fraud “the money they got will be used for their funeral.”
“If anyone tries to switch result they will not live to enjoy their ill-gotten financial reward,” he stressed.
When Alltimepost.com contacted Mrs. Pricilla Sule for comment she declined, but promised to respond to the allegation at the appropriate time.
As at this morning in Nigeria, according to our correspondent who was present at the INEC headquarters in Benin today, all electoral materials for the election had already been sent to the various local government areas of Edo State. Distributions were ongoing at the various local government areas as at the time of this report.
Meanwhile, the situation room of the Edo Civil Society organizations in Benin City has commenced operation. It comprises of over 70 civil societies. As at the time of filing this report, the civil society organizations were about to address the press on the election.
Details will follow later.
This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.