Ekiti Tape Scandal: Stakeholders Demand Investigation

Several lawyers and civil society activities have told the Nation’s government to investigate the audio recording of  Peoples’ Democratic Party chieftains plotting with security agencies to rig the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.

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The recording revealed that prominent officials of the PDP had planned to rig the 2014 Ekiti governorship election alongside army officials.

Those allegedly caught in the recording was Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Defence Minister, and Ayo Fayose, who defeated the incumbent governor.

Both have denied being a party to the plot to rig the election and questioned the authenticity of the recording.

Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan had however attended the meeting and confirmed the authencity of the tape.

He however said that the meeting was never about rigging the Ekiti State election.

Executive Director of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL leader Debo Adeniran said: “When people do such things, they normally do it in secrecy with a view to denying it when they are busted. Which is what Obanikoro and Fayose have done”.

“But that will not deny the fact that the voices and mannerisms were for those whose voices were recorded, especially Obanikoro and Fayose. Their denial should not be taken as final. They should be tested in a court of competent jurisdiction so that at the end of the day people should not force themselves on the citizens.”

Adeniran said that the incident demands to be investidated as it “portends a great danger for the future of Nigeria.”

A democracy whereby people can stage a coup and get away with it. This time around, the police and DSS (Department of State Security) should promptly arrest those ones not covered by immunity, extract more information from them, and charge them to court. Those in the military should be made to face a court martial.

“If it is true that the election in Ekiti State was rigged, because the governor had no reason to win it in the first place, the situation should be reversed and impeachment proceedings instituted against the governor.”

Also human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo  said that the tape was no meant for entertainment.

“That incident that was recorded is an incident that touches and goes to the very root of our democracy. It’s a tape that will dictate the survival of our democracy or otherwise.”
Mr. Keyamo called for a thorough investigation of all the dramatist personae involved, including the officer who recorded the conversation, and for the findings to be made public.
“Whoever is found culpable must be punished. The matter must not start and die with the denial of the people involved. There must be a thorough criminal investigation.”

Another human rights lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, said: “I believe that the responsibility is on the person making the allegation to make himself available for investigation”.

“Why did he wait until judgment was delivered at the (Election Petitions) tribunal? Having waited for the tribunal process to be completed it is of no relevance to the judicial process.

“It can’t be used for appeal because the Court of Appeal is not a court of evidence. It only reviews the judgment delivered by a lower court, you can’t smuggle in evidence at that stage.”

“If these allegations are true, it casts a shadow on the integrity of this government and that of the electoral process. I suspect that there may be more to it than meets the eye.”

The tape had revealed that the Election was rigged by PDP who allegedly coerced with Army officials.

Source: Naij