Days after an exclusive report exposing the elaborate plot by supporters of Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to undermine confidence in the outcome of the 2023 elections through the criminal falsification of INEC voters register, his party and the electoral body have maintained a curious silence on the serious allegations despite calls for investigation and action.
Recall that PODIUM Reporters had presented strong evidence of a centrally coordinated attempt to doctor the INEC voters register with the criminal inclusion of photos of underage citizens, mostly from the northern region of the country, in a report published on 23rd November, 2022.
The report shows communication between members of the Obi’s campaign in which technical instructions were passed on ways to replace the personal data of duly registered voters on INEC’s records with fabricated information tied to photos of underaged citizens sourced online.
The evidence, including photo evidence of the communication, came from an inside whistleblower who witnessed the beginning of the underhand plot and exclusively told PODIUM REPORTERS of the complicity of the leadership of the Obi campaign in the criminal forgery which, according to him, was meant to perpetuate negative tropes and largely unfounded claims that other parties sought to rig the outcome of the 2023 election through the illegal mobilization of underage voters, particularly in the north.
Shocked by the revelation, several Nigerians, including civil society organisations, have called for further investigations and potential indictments.
Others have urged the Labour Party and the Obi campaign to offer a response to the allegations, especially as the party and the candidate have previously been fingered in forgery scandals, notably a fake letter purportedly disclosing INEC’s attempt to investigate the presidential candidate of the APC over a dismissed suit abroad.
On Twitter, @SofolaY wrote: Why are Obidiots like this? There is nothing they can use to campaign for their principal, they’re too violent, now they’ve resulted to blackmailing people and now not just people but special offices in Nigeria. Nigeria has to take this up with these lying bigots.
@kokomatic wrote: “These Peter Obi people are terrible and desperate, @inecnigeria please pay attention….”