Unstable Aluko reveals more on how Ekiti poll was ‘finalised’ in hotel

Embattled former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ekiti State chapter, Dr. Tope Aluko, has unveiled fresh facts as to how the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State was allegedly rigged in favour of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

According to him, the act of rigging the election was perfected inside a hotel about a week before the election proper.

Aluko stated that the sensitive materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) meant for the election such as ballot papers and result sheets, were delivered to PDP chieftains to allow for the manipulation of the poll long before the electorate went to the polls.

Aluko has been unstable and somewhat erratic with his testimonies and relationship with Governor Fayose over the last governorship election in that state.

This time around, Aluko spoke during an interview session on ADABA 88. 9 FM where he said that the electoral materials were delivered through Akure Airport and taken to a hotel owned by Fayose’s Chief of Staff, Dipo Anisulowo in Are-Ekiti, where the alleged manipulation was carried out.

He said ballot papers were thumb-printed and result sheets filled by PDP members, which gave the party “undue advantage”.

He said that though operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the hotel and arrested the PDP henchmen, they were released within three hours because “we (PDP) were in government at that time”.

Aluko also alleged that a lorry conveying some of the electoral materials was intercepted by soldiers led by the recently retired Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Momoh “But the materials were later released after the officers received ‘order from above’.”

Speaking on the purported reconciliation meeting with Fayose in a Lagos hotel, Aluko said he never went to meet Fayose as believed in some quarters.

He again denied ever arranging a reconciliatory meeting with Fayose, claiming that Fayose and a former Ekiti Assembly factional Speaker, Dele Olugbemi were the ones who gatecrashed a meeting he was holding with some PDP chieftains.

His words: “It was the governor and former Ekiti Assembly factional Speaker Dele Olugbemi who barged into a meeting I was holding with some PDP leaders.

“Olugbemi and Fayose barged into the meeting venue. Olugbemi is a liar. He had lied against Fayose. He lied against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP. He is working for the money and appointment he just received from Fayose.

“I did not create a scene at the venue because hefty men were stationed around and my wife was afraid of what could happen.

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“The governor held my clothes that I should not talk when I wanted to talk.

“I feared for my wife who later disappeared from the scene and I did not know her whereabouts.

“They almost attacked me when I went to Channels Television but it was policemen led by the CP who saved me after being holed up there for about three hours.

“I played safe because of my wife and to avoid the scenario that played out when I went to Channels Television to grant my first interview.”

On accusations that he was doing all of this because he lost out in appointments in the state, Aluko declared, “I am not doing this because I was denied appointment. I discovered that this man has no plans for Ekiti and I went to him that Oga, it’s almost a year in office now and we have not done anything for the people.

“Fayose replied me by saying ‘don’t worry, Ekiti people are easy to deceive because by the time you buy them ponmo (cow skin) and booli (roasted plantain), you have stolen their hearts’.

“It was there that our crisis started. The issue of Chief of Staff was secondary.

“Fayose derailed from our blueprint for the development of Ekiti. He cancelled the monthly allowances for the aged.

“He imposed taxes on primary school pupils, among his other anti-people policies but when I reminded him, he told me that Ekiti people are gullible.

“I need the prayer of Nigerians so that I will not fall prey to the evil machinations of those planning to kill me by all means because of the truth I told Nigerians”, he said.

 

 

 

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