The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked allegations of reconfiguration of its Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the Kogi State governorship election slated for November 11, 2023.
In a statement issued by the chief press secretary to INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, on Saturday in Abuja, the Commission categorically refuted the claim, asserting that it was fake news.
Oyekanmi said the malicious statement signed by ID Ijele, Director of New Media of the SDP Governorship Campaign Team in Kogi State, claimed that three INEC staff members were involved in unauthorised BVAS machine reconfiguration at the Government House in Lokoja, with the alleged aim of manipulating the upcoming governorship election in favour of a particular candidate.
Oyekanmi clarified that the three individuals mentioned had no connection to the BVAS machine configuration process and were not present in Kogi State at the time.
He said Mr. Nicholas Ocholi mentioned in the report was fulfilling his duties in the INEC office in Ondo State, specifically in Akure, Ibrahim Egbunu was attending to a close family member hospitalised in Abuja, while Mohammed Adara had retired from the Commission last year, and is no longer an INEC staff member.
The CPS to INEC Chairman further emphasised that the configuration of BVAS machines was carried out simultaneously and exclusively in INEC offices located in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States.
The statement reads in part: “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a statement signed by ID Ijele, Director of New Media of the SDP Governorship campaign team in Kogi State.
“The statement alleged that three staff of INEC are right now maliciously reconfiguring the BVAS machines in the Government House, Lokoja, with the intention of manipulating the forthcoming Governorship election in a part of the State in favour of a candidate.
“The story is untrue. The three persons mentioned are not associated with the configuration of the BVAS machines and are not even in Kogi State at the moment. Mr. Nicholas Ocholi is on his duty post in our Ondo State office in Akure. Ibrahim Egbunu is attending to a very close family member hospitalised in Abuja. Mohammed Adara retired last year and is no longer a staff of the Commission.”
Oyekanmi further said the configuration of BVAS machines is done simultaneously and exclusively in INEC offices in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States professionally and strictly handled by teams deployed from the national headquarters of Commission in Abuja.
“The public is advised to disregard the story as fake news. At the same time, the Commission appeals to political parties to desist from engaging in malicious rumour mongering of this nature,” he added.
