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The Independent National Electoral Commissioner, (INEC) has told Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose to back up his allegation that the officer in charge of Election Operations and Logistics, Amina Zakari, is working for the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Kayode Fayemi, to rig the election in favour of APC with evidence.
Fayose had alleged that Zakari was planning to rig the election in favour of the former Minister.
“They should prove that beyond reasonable doubt. I doubt it if an individual can rig an election when there are over 20,000 personnel to conduct the election.
“They should back their allegation with fact and figures. We (INEC) have nothing to hide. I see no reason why INEC would want to go back to bad old days. We are moving forward as we remained focused to ensure a credible election that Nigeria will be proud of,” she said.
The Commission’s top officials on a visit to the state said the hopes and expectations of Nigerians on the Ekiti gubernatorial election which comes up in two week time will not be dashed.
The officials gave the assurance in Ado Ekiti, saying there would be no room for failure in the poll.
The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states, Solomon Soyebi and Zakari gave the declaration at a Pre-Election Preparation workshop organised for Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers and Head of Departments .
Soyebi said the workshop was to tidy up things as every polling unit must be opened by 7am.
“There will be no room for excuses. Any Local Government where this happen, the Electoral Officer, (EO) will be responsible
“You must share responsibilities with your assistants to avoid one-man show. You must also watch your utterances so as to safeguard the integrity of the exercise,” he said.
Zakari said the workshop would review work done so far and to expose officials to new ideas, processes and approach to a successful conduct of the election.
“The workshop is to ensure proper preparations for the election. This is the practice over the years. It is to ensure there is no gap between policies and implementation
“It is to aid direct interaction with departments that initiate policies and to collect ideas that will help in reshaping policies and procedure
“I have no doubt that this will be well-organised and it will be adjudged as the most successful election ever conducted,” she said.
