Videos: INEC Boss Meets APC, PDP, SDP, Other Party Chairmen Ahead Of Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo Election

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, is currently in a meeting with chairmen of all political parties participating in the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo State.

Recall that INEC had scheduled November 11 for the governorship election in the three states.

Yakubu and top chieftains of the political parties involved arrived at INEC headquarters in Abuja today, where the commission’s boss is expected to brief the political parties about preparations, and the roles of political parties in the elections.

It is also an avenue for the parties to speak to the INEC chairman about their concerns and observations ahead of the exercise.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum and other parties have all arrived at the meeting venue as of the time of filing this report.

Ajaka Apologizes After Raising Alarm On INEC Reconfiguring BVAS Inside Kogi Govt House

Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Kogi State, Muritala Ajaka, has apologized for his initial claim that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wants to manipulate the outcome of the November 11 election in favour of a particular candidate.

Ajaka, in a fresh statement through his campaign spokesperson, Faruk Adejoh-Audu, expressed confidence in the ability of INEC to conduct a credible governorship election in Kogi.

Naija News recalls the Kogi State chapter of SDP had raised an alarm that three electoral officials were in the state Government House, reconfiguring BVAS to favour a particular candidate.

But INEC, in a statement on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, called on members of the public to disregard the reports as it is fake news.

Subsequently, Ajaka was also quoted by his campaign spokesperson to have backtracked and noted that he is confident in the ability of INEC to conduct credible elections.

Adejoh-Audu said the SDP candidate issued the apology in a meeting with party stakeholders in Abuja on Saturday.

He reiterated the party’s confidence in the reforms put in place by INEC.

“All our supporters should disregard any alarm of crooks reconfiguring BVAS devices. It’s just not possible. We have total confidence in the ability of INEC to secure our votes,” Ajaka was quoted as saying.