An audio recording reveals that the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commission, Professor James Apam has expressed concern with being pressured to rig the Kogi West Senatorial election against Senator Dino Melaye.
Ms. Natasha Akpoti, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), candidate in the November 16 governorship election in Kogi state posted the audio tape on her official Twitter handle @NatashaAkpoti.
In the recording, Professor Apam is heard telling someone on the other end of what appears to be a phone call, that Senator Dino Melaye won the poll by 17,000 votes.
“The guy [Dino Melaye] won neatly,” the INEC official can be heard saying.
He also said that there was ‘suddenly pressure” on him to doctor the results so that Melaye would lose the election.
“I hate injustice and can’t keep this to myself,” Ms. Akpoti wrote as she shared the recording on Twitter.
You may listen to the sub-titled conversation below:
Melaye, eventually, won the election and was confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
His main challenger, Sam Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress, APC, challenged the outcome of the election and the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal overturn Melaye’s victory and ordered a new election be conducted.
READ ALSO: Kogi Election: I Will Rather Lose Than Allow Dino Melaye To Win – Yahaya Bello
The Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the election petition tribunal and ordered that another election be held within 90 days.
A rematch of the long-time political rivals will take place on November 16, 2019.
Watch the audio tape here
