Following the bribery allegation raised by the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Jimoh Ibrahim, against officials of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Segun Agbaje, has threatened to sue Ibrahim for defamation.
Ibrahim had recently alleged that an official of the nation’s electoral umpire demanded a $1m dollar bribe from him to accept some court documents.
Ibrahim also accused the REC of proposing a meeting with him in London to discuss the Ondo election.
Speaking on Thursday in Akure, the state REC said he was set to file a court case against lbrahim for assassinating his character.
Agbaje said, “I intend to sue him (Ibrahim ) for defamation but when our national headquarters has a step in that direction, I stepped down my action. INEC will not do anything that will reduce the credibility it has built through the years.”
The REC assured the state of a free and fair election, adding that he would not be deterred by Ibrahim’s allegation against him.
He warned that those alleged to be cloning Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, if caught will be severely punished.
“We hear people are cloning cards to cheat during the election. Cloned cards will not work. The card reader will detect the cloned cards.
“Protect your cards, don’t sell them, it is a criminal offence. There will be enough card readers so that if any malfunctions, it will be immediately replaced,” he said.
It would be recalled that INEC yesterday replaced Eyitayo Jegede with Ibrahim as the PDP candidate in the state governorship election scheduled for November 26.
Source: nigeria breaking news.com.ng
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
