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• November 3, 2024
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Edo guber: INEC failed Nigerians, must be held accountable – Rights group

The Executive Director, TAP Initiative, Martins Obono, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of being actively involved in rigging the 2024 Edo State governorship election. It could be recalled that Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, defeated the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the keenly contested election. However, appearing
Edo guber: INEC failed Nigerians, must be held accountable – Rights group

The Executive Director, TAP Initiative, Martins Obono, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of being actively involved in rigging the 2024 Edo State governorship election.

It could be recalled that Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, defeated the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the keenly contested election.

However, appearing on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Obono presented what he claimed to be “damning, incontrovertible evidence” of INEC’s role in an alleged conspiracy that could shake Nigeria’s electoral foundation.

While presenting documents, he said: “When we compared the CTCs from INEC with iREV’s records, we uncovered something staggering.

“It appears INEC produced a shadow set of result sheets to substitute the real ones.

“They bear identical serial numbers, yet the iREV results are signed by party agents, while the CTCs are mysteriously unsigned.”

Obono then revealed that TAP Initiative had enlisted a world-renowned forensic handwriting expert, whose expertise is sought by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, to scrutinise the CTCs.

“The expert confirmed that several CTCs were filled out by a single individual,” Obono stated.

“One person sat down and forged these results. We were stunned. Democracies are built on trust in our institutions. If INEC can betray that trust, what does it mean for our future?” He alleged.

Obono contended that the alleged manipulation “wasn’t just election fraud, it was institutionalised rigging, a level of deception never seen before in Nigeria.

“For years, we suspected rogue actors in political parties. But this time, it’s the very institution entrusted to protect our democracy, INEC, that is subverting it.

“Citizens need to believe in the system, or democracy fails. This isn’t about one election; it’s about the soul of our democracy.”

He called on the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to pursue a comprehensive investigation, stressing, “This cannot stand. If INEC’s actions go unpunished, it will form the playbook for all future elections.

“We fought too hard for this democracy to allow it to be dismantled by those who should protect it.”

According to Obono, the 2022 Electoral Act has strengthened oversight over political actors but has failed to apply the same accountability standards to INEC itself.

“Those involved in this scandal must face the law.

“Nigeria’s democracy depends on the integrity of its institutions, and if INEC has abandoned that, it’s our duty to hold them accountable,” he declared.

Edo guber: INEC failed Nigerians, must be held accountable – Rights group

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Osun NSCDC nabs NNPCL truck driver over diversion, theft of PMS

The Osun Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has arrested a Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) truck driver, Afeez Adegbola, on allegations of diverting 10,000 litres of petrol intended for the company. The arrest of the suspect, Adebola and his two motorboys, was disclosed by the Osun NSCDC Commandant, Igbalawole
Osun NSCDC nabs NNPCL truck driver over diversion, theft of PMS

The Osun Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has arrested a Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) truck driver, Afeez Adegbola, on allegations of diverting 10,000 litres of petrol intended for the company.

The arrest of the suspect, Adebola and his two motorboys, was disclosed by the Osun NSCDC Commandant, Igbalawole Sotiyo during a public parade in Osogbo on Saturday.

According to Sotiyo, the arrest occurred at about 8:21pm on Friday after a tip-off.

The Osun NSCDC boss revealed that Adegbola had loaded 40,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol, at Pinnacle Distribution Depot in Eleko, Lagos, with instructions to deliver the fuel to the NNPCL Mega Station in Osogbo.

He said however that during surveillance, NSCDC officers tracked the truck, registered as AGG 959 XA, and found that only 30,000 litres were delivered to the intended station, while the remaining 10,000 litres were redirected to a private filling station, TEMPOLA, in Ikirun, Ifelodun local government council area.

The suspects reportedly admitted that the full load of 40,000 litres was meant for the Osogbo NNPCL station but claimed their company directed them to offload 10,000 litres at the private station.

Condemning the action, Sotiyo described it as economic sabotage and theft.

He also urged stakeholders in petroleum distribution to avoid engaging in such practices.

He called on NNPCL managers nationwide to work with the NSCDC to prevent similar incidents, adding that those involved in product diversion would be brought to justice.

He said, “It is an act of sabotage and stealing against the state. They are saboteurs and anti-state agents.

“NSCDC is using this medium to warn all the stakeholders involved in the distribution of petroleum products nationwide that anyone caught sabotaging the government would be apprehended and prosecuted.

“NSCDC uses this medium to request NNPCL Managers/Supervisors nationwide to work with the NSCDC to ensure saboteurs are brought to justice,” he said.

Sotiyo also issued a warning to criminal elements in the state.

“I want to inform the good people of Osun State that there is a new Sheriff in town.

“It is no more business as usual. Therefore, all criminally minded people in the state must have a change of heart or be ready to face the consequences of their actions.”

“At the expiration of the investigation,” Sotiyo revealed, “the suspects will be charged to a court.”

Osun NSCDC nabs NNPCL truck driver over diversion, theft of PMS