Oke’s allegation of rigging in Ondo baseless – INEC

BY SUNDAY ABORISADE

Chief Olusola Oke, PDP Candidate

Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed the allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for the October 20 Ondo State governorship election, Chief Olusola Oke, that it connived with security officials  to rig the poll as “baseless”.
INEC insisted that the election was credible, defending the victory of  the Labour Party’s candidate, Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
Oke on Monday,  in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Kunle Adebayo, alleged that INEC, the police, State Security Service, Army and other security agencies  rigged the poll in favour of the LP.
But the electoral body on Wednesday,  in a statement by its Director of Legal Services, Mr. Oluwole Uzzi, said rather than attacking  INEC in the  media, Oke  should seek redress in a court of law.
The  commission wondered why Oke failed to express his opinion “in a responsible, civil, and decorous manner, bereft of provocative and uncouth language, outright falsehood and wild, fanciful but unfounded assertions”.
It  alleged that the PDP chief  in his “vain and fruitless attempt to denigrate, discredit and belittle the nation’s progress and achievements in its path to free, fair and credible elections and a robust, enduring democracy, level wild, baseless allegations against INEC without particulars”.
The statement read in part, “No amount of blackmail or lies can discredit this because even prominent and respected Nigerians, and  the PDP have been gracious enough to congratulate the winner and commended INEC and the electorate.
“Oke is a lawyer and he is   aware of the electoral dispute resolution mechanism enshrined in our constitution and laws.
“Any aggrieved person is, in accordance with the rule of law, encouraged to avail himself of this process, where the facts and evidence adduced are subject to forensic examination, and justice is dispensed according to law and proven fact  and not based on  sentiments or other whimsical notion.
“Having resolved to seek refuge in court as stated, why then did the author (of the statement) resort to taking umbrage at the exercise in   the media in an attempt to discredit, subvert and undermine a credible process?
“The commission wishes to reiterate that it stands by the sanctity of the voter register as well as by the declaration and return made, which was in accordance and in substantial compliance with extant laws and rules.
“It did not at anytime conspire or act in concert with anyone or institution contrary to law. It acted fairly, competently and professionally in its conduct of the October 20 election.”
Meanwhile, the Labour Party has said Mimiko won the election with 73 per cent of total votes cast.
The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Femi Okunjemiruwa, berated “those trying to undermine Mimiko’s victory”.
It described them as “bad losers who are out to employ lies and propaganda which failed them before and during the election to rubbish a victory already hailed as superlative.”
LibertyReport