As the countdown to the 2019 general elections begins, facts have emerged on how INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) officials are bought over to swing election results in favour of the highest bidder.

The revelation comes as crucial lessons for advocates of free and fair elections, even as high and low INEC officials across the country are known to be soliciting major and minor political parties in the bid to serve their interests.

During the 2011 general elections, no fewer than 30 INEC officials were implicated and consequently sacked for aiding electoral malpractices across the country. In Anambra State alone, 16 INEC officials were involved in the sack.

A source close to INEC however suggests that the sacked officials were only used as shields, insisting that the real perpetrators of electoral fraud are ‘the high and mighty’ in INEC.

The clandestine activities of the officials of INEC included the deliberate hiding of ballots to disfranchise voters and to later thump print the hidden ballots secretly to the advantage of their preferred candidates.

An inside source who spoke to SATELLITE TIMES explained how in 2011, a plot was perfected in Owerri North Local Government area, Imo State during the gubernatorial and House of Assembly election; in the polls that brought the sitting governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha to power.

The election held on 26th April, 2011 the source said the Supervisory Presiding Officer of Orji ward, Stanley Okolie instead of taking twelve thousand ballots (12,000) each, he rather took ten thousand (10,000) each, leaving two thousand behind.

“The shortage of the ballot papers caused some party agents to disrupt election and the election did not start as scheduled,” the source disclosed.

The implication is that, the voting exercise would have stretched into the night and providing gaps for possible manipulations.

Other states where INEC officials were implicated in offences relating to hiding of ballots and wrong entries in the register of voters included, Edo Zamfara, FCT, Delta, Lagos and Rivers States with one (1) official each affected, Oyo and Osun two (2) each, and three (3) in Delta State.

All the affected officials were reportedly dismissed by INEC.

A source close to embattled Plateau Senator, Joshua Dariye has revealed the real reason why the convicted Senator picked a form to contest for a seat in the National Assembly in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

The election form was posted on Facebook by Monday Shadrack Kopmut, a supporter of the convicted Senator and the news quickly filtered a number of media platforms.

Though the All Progressives Congress (APC) through its Spokesperson, Yekini Nabena said on Tuesday that the law governing Nigeria and that of its constitution forbids Mr Dariye, a convict from election, a source close to the Senator has revealed that there are secret plans to allow him run for a seat in the Upper Legislative Chamber.

Speaking to SATELLITE TIMES, the source who begged to remain anonymous revealed that Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong last week met with President Muhammadu Buhari on arrival from his trip to China to raise concerns over the forth coming elections.

Mr Lalong was said to have registered worries over the loss of popularity and the possibilities of losing Plateau State to its opposition if a resolute action was not taken.

Governor Lalong in a meeting with President Buhari [Photo Credit: Punch Newspaper]

SATELLITE TIMES sought official response via a telephone call to Mr Yekini Nabena, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to confirm if the party was aware of the alleged plot but the call was turned down. Mr. Yekini who said he was going to call back failed to do so, even with a follow up text message reminder.

Mr Dariye served as the governor of Plateau State from 1999 to 2007 and was later elected as the Senator representing Plateau Central Senatorial District in 2011 on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) and later moved to the APC in 2015.

Accused of diverting N1.126bn from Plateau Government’s ecological funds, a Federal Capital Territory High Court in June sentenced Mr Dariye to 14 years in prison.

The presiding judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, sentenced the former governor to two-year and 14-year jail terms to be served concurrently without an option of fine.

In 2007, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) found him guilty on 15 out of 23-count criminal charge bothering on money laundering. The former governor was said to have operated Ebenezer Reitner Ventures, an unregistered company through which he diverted the said funds.

The ongoing rift between the Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar has forced the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Dogara on Wednesday picked the nomination form on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to return to the House of Representative.

News of Mr Dogara’s defection came in the heat of massive support from members of his constituency who thronged his Abuja residence, demanding the Speaker to re-contest.

Addressing hundreds of his constituents on Tuesday, the Speaker said he was already contemplating stepping aside, having represented his constituency (Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa) for almost 12 years.

Sources close to Mr Dogara however told SATELLITE TIMES that one of the reasons for his defection could be traced to the ‘bad blood’ between the Speaker and the incumbent Governor of the State, adding that he (Dogara) was not comfortable with the nature of direct/indirect primaries planned by the Bauchi APC.

About 50 buses on Tuesday stormed the Speaker’s Maitama residence and pledged their unwavering support for him irrespective of his next political party or affiliation.

Overwhelmed by the show of support, the Speaker said he never imagined to see the mammoth crowd that came out in solidarity.

Mr Dogara’s defection has corroborated rumours of his planned defection, thereby making him a chieftain of the opposition party.