INEC Refutes Accusation of BVAS Machine Reconfiguration by Staff for Kogi Governorship Election
Oru Leonard
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted allegations of reconfiguration of its Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the Kogi State governorship election slated for November 11, 2023.
A statement made available to News Dot Africa by the Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, on Saturday in Abuja, asserted that the claim is fake news.
Oyekanmi noted 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 stressed that the configuration of BVAS machines was carried out simultaneously and exclusively in INEC offices located in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States.
Oyekanmi disclosed that 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.
