Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of colluding with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in a bid to rig the June 21 governorship election in the state.
The former governor asked for immediate removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Halilu Pai, allegedly for hobnobbing with top hierarchy of the APC in the state.
In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on Tuesday, the former governor said the APC and the INEC were hiding under the ongoing nationwide registration of the party to commit crime.
The statement urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to constitute a committee that would investigate the allegation.
It said, “The Peoples Democratic Party from reliable source confirmed that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, including some officials of the Ekiti State Government, recently met a National Leader of the APC in a five-star hotel on Victoria Island in Lagos.
“At the said meeting, the Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner allegedly pledged his loyalty to the party and assured those at the meeting that he will do everything within his power to work for the success of the ruling party in the South-West”.
It said that a similar meeting was held in Ado Ekiti, where plans on how to rig the poll were made.
The state Director of Media, APC, Segun Dipe, said, “Ayo Fayose has lost it. He is a confused politician. The so called INEC designated points are meant for every party.
“Essentially, the so-called INEC designated points are property of individuals. They are community places. It is not INEC property and any activity can happen there. We can play football there, fry Akara or do other things. Fayose is free to register with APC if he wants to.
“On connivance with INEC, we know which party is close to INEC. We know which party wants to use INEC for the 2015 election. We know what happened in Anambra, Delta and Ondo states”.
An official of INEC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “Fayose is free to express his opinion. If he has any evidence to establish his case he should prove it. If he has a video, let him play. Let him even state the date and time”.