Your allegation is “baseless”, INEC replies Governor Wike

The Independent National Election Commission has described as “baseless” and “untrue”, the allegation by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, that the commission has handed over the original copies of result sheets for the forthcoming legislative rerun election in the state to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

The governor had alleged that INEC was planning with Mr. Amaechi, a former governor of the state and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to rig the December 10 election.

“While we are working for the people of Rivers State to convince them to vote for us, the APC is busy working with the INEC to rig the rerun elections,” Mr. Wike said on Wednesday in Etche Local Government Area of the state.

Mr. Wike claimed he has proceedings of APC meeting in Abuja where Mr. Amaechi allegedly told APC members that he has the original result sheets for the election, and that the party’s victory was assured.

But INEC, in a response to the allegation, advised the public to disregard what Mr. Wike said.

“The Commission hereby affirms that the allegation is baseless and totally untrue,” Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, said in a statement on Thursday.

“The Commission also wishes to assure Nigerians that it will continue to discharge its duties according to the rules governing its mandate, without fear or favour and with a very high sense of responsibility,” Mr. Oyekanmi said.

Mr. Amaechi too has described Mr. Wike’s allegations as baseless, and an attempt by the Rivers governor to intimidate INEC.