The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Kogi State, Murtala Ajaka, has raised serious allegations of irregularities in Saturday’s election, claiming that the process was rigged with the support of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ajaka declared on Channels TV’s ‘The 2023 Verdict: Off-Cycle Elections’ that he won’t pursue legal action if he loses, deeming it futile.
During the interview, Ajaka asserted that there was no genuine election in any of the five local governments in the central region, alleging that results were fabricated and handed over to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He highlighted discrepancies in Okene local government, where the reported vote count exceeded 130,000, significantly surpassing the Biometric Voter Authentication System (BVAS) figures, which recorded less than 30,000 votes.
Expressing frustration, Ajaka criticized INEC, stating that if the electoral body does not thoroughly investigate the alleged irregularities and hold officials accountable, it could jeopardize the credibility of future elections.
He voiced concern that failure to address the issue might lead to increased electoral violence in the future.
Ajaka revealed that, despite assurances from INEC about transparency in the electoral process, he has lost confidence in the system.
He explained that going to court would be pointless, as he believes INEC officials would defend their actions as witnesses, rendering the legal process ineffective.