$1M BRIBE CLAIM: You’re a big liar, INEC says to Jimoh Ibrahim

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described as false the claim by Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim that its official asked him for $1million bribe.

Ibrahim had claimed that an official of the commission demanded he should pay $1m before his name could be inserted as the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State.

However, in a statement released by its National Commissioner in charge of Publicity, Mr. Adedeji Soyebi, in Abuja on Monday, INEC said the Acting Director, Legal Services Mrs. Toyin Babalola never demanded for the alleged bribe from Ibrahim.

According to Soyebi, the preliminary investigation by INEC showed that there was no truth in Ibrahim’s claims.

“The commission hereby states, for the records, that from its preliminary investigation, nothing can be farther from the truth.

“On the first allegation. our investigation revealed that Mr. Ibrahim turned up at the INEC headquarters, Abuja unannounced, made his way to Mrs. Babalola’s office, brandished a copy of the court document and insisted that INEC should accept him as the official candidate of the PDP for the Ondo Governorship Poll.

“On sighting the unexpected guest, Mrs. Babalola called three other lawyers in her department to witness her encounter with Mr. Ibrahim and politely told him that the commission was already in possession of the court document.

Read also: Jimoh Ibrahim accuses INEC staff of demanding $1m bribe

“At no time during the encounter that lasted less than 15 minutes did Mrs Babalola ask for $1million. Therefore, the allegation by Mr. Ibrahim is false,” he said.

Ibrahim is the Ali Modu Sheriff factional candidate of the PDP and was declared the authentic candidate of the PDP in a judgment by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.

The court had ordered INEC to subtitute the name of Eritayo Jegede, candidate of the Ahmed Makarfi-led group of the party with that of Ibrahim.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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