>
A pressure group, the Liberation Movement of Nigeria, has accused some officials of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) of conniving with one of the candidates in the inconclusive House of Representatives election for Oluyole Federal Constituency to perpetrate rigging by withholding 49,904 ballot papers.
The group in a state by its Chairman and Secretary, Comrade Seyi Akintunde and Comrade Segun Akintomide respectively, disclosed that the candidate induced the said officials with cash to hold on to some of the ballot papers for the election.
The group called on INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to investigate the matter, saying that some unscrupulous elements in the commission are bent on sweeping the matter under the carpet and declaring a candidate winner without following procedures of electoral laws.
The group also cautioned the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) not to engage in activities that will affect the integrity of the commission, urging him to prevail on its staff to remain unbiased umpire as stipulated by the laws instead of favouritism exhibited by some staff of the commission.
“Our preliminary investigations have revealed that the insufficient ballot paper wasn’t an error but deliberate efforts by an INEC official who was bribed by one of the candidates that is desperate to be back in the House of Representatives.
“The ballot papers were given to this candidate to perpetrate fraud and the little one released during the election was based on the pressure from the other candidates.
“We want INEC to explain to the electorates why there were insufficient ballot papers and do justice to the issue. This issue shouldn’t be treated lightly as there could be a repeat of the same thing during the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.
“How can completed ballot papers be allotted for Presidential and Senatorial elections, but there was a shortfall in the House of Representatives and the elections were held on the same day? This calls for great concern and it should be thoroughly investigated and due action taken to prevent future occurrence,” the group said.
Recall that one of the political parties in the election, Accord, through its counsel, Mr Oladipo Olasope, had called for the total cancellation of results from Oluyole Federal constituency election.
The party had in the petition alleged that insufficient ballot papers were allotted to the Oluyole Federal Constituency for the election held last Saturday.
In the petition addressed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Adeniran Tella, said the expected ballot papers for the conduct of the election were supposed to be 130,680, but only 80,766 were provided.