INEC National Commissioner, Mustapha Lecky, who was accused by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of colluding with the All Progressives Congress (APC), to rig the election said there is no truth in the allegation.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday, alleged that Lecky was working with APC to manipulate the electoral officers, including changing the list of ad hoc staff recruited by INEC.
Ologbondiyan also accused him of collecting names from the APC candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the former National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to rig the election in favour of the party.
But Lecky who is Chairman, Planning, Monitoring and Strategy Committee (PMSC) of INEC said the allegations were figments of the imagination of the party’s spokesperson.
He stated that it was not unexpected of such allegations “on the eve of a major election” when “political parties will spew out all manner of things about people.”
He regretted that people’s image was tarnished by such allegations, which were not based on fact.
“I am not contesting. I am not campaigning and I do not belong to any political party. Probably that is what political parties are used to because I am not a member. Clearly, this is just a figment of his wide imagination. It is not true, it is not possible and I don’t know why he will link with me with APC.
“I am not a card carrying member and I have never been. I don’t vote, I don’t exercise any franchise. If you look at it critically you will know that some things don’t make sense, but not unexpected at this time of a major election,” Lecky defended.
He recalled that some INEC commissioners had also been accused at different times without any fact to prove such, but assured of the credibility of the Edo election.
Meanwhile, PDP candidate for the October 31 senatorial bye-election for Cross River North, Dr Stephen Odey, has extend the olive branch to co-contestants.
Odey who emerged from a parallel congress, which was later ratified by the PDP national leadership, called on other aspirants to sheath their swords and support him to win the election.
“Come let us work together; it’s a family affair and the task ahead demands unity and stronger togetherness,” Odey demanded.
