The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ebonyi State, Professor Godswill Obioma has denied collecting N300m bribe for the purpose of reducing the votes of President Muhammadu Buhari in the Feb 23rd general election in Ikwo and Ezza South Federal Constituency.
Professor Obioma stated this while reacting to allegations by the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) for Ikwo and Ezza South Federal Constituency, Chinedu Ogar that he was arrested by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) for collecting bribe to reduce the President’s and other APC candidates’ votes in the area.
The REC described the allegation as ridiculous noting that Presidential votes were declared as collated.
He pointed out that altered and mutilated results which were being investigated had nothing to do with presidential votes but Federal constituency votes.
“After the elections, we observed that results from two polling units in Ikwo and 20 from Ezza South were altered and mutilated before they were brought to our office after announcement of the results of that constituency.
“I promptly reported that matter to the Headquarters who directed me to invite police to investigate the source of mutilation. In the last three weeks or one month Police have been carrying out investigation regarding that, it does not concern the Presidential election results at all. Mr President’s votes were not mutilated at all”
Professor Obioma explained that he was invited by SPIP following an allegation that PDP connived with some INEC staff to reduce votes of APC.
He noted that he has responded to the allegations raised noting that the allegations had nothing to do with him as a person but INEC as an Electoral umpire.
His clarification followed accussation by Mr Ogar that the REC and some INEC officials in the state collected bribes from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to reduce his votes and that of the President.
Ogar who lost the election to PDP’s candidate, Laz Ogbe is challenging the results declared by INEC at the tribunal.