Muritala Ajaka, the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State, has tendered an apology after he claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wants to manipulate the outcome of the November 11 polls 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.
The Kogi State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (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.