Fayose, Obanikoro deny rigging allegations

Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, who was accused of participating in the rigging as well, has also denied the allegation.

play Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose

(Facebook)

play Former Minister of State for Defence and Lagos governorship aspirant, Musiliu Obanikoro (pictured)
(Senator Obanikoro)

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Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has denied allegations that he rigged the June 2014 governorship election which brought him into office.

Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, who was accused of participating in the rigging as well, has also denied the allegation.

“I have not heard the recording but there is nowhere in the world you will find me talking about rigging an election,” Obanikoro said during a radio interview on Rhythm 93.7.

Fayose responded to the allegation via a statement released today, February 6. It reads:

"Nigerians should be reminded of how the APC people lied in 2007 that they recorded how the governorship election was rigged even in the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, but the party could not produce a single photo evidence at the tribunal because their plans to do what is know as Morphing and Syncing was exposed.”

"Nigerians should also be reminded of the existence of a technology called speech software, which is good at reproducing the sounds, inflections and intonations of a human voice.”

"There are softwares that can re-create voices and even bring the voices of long-dead notable persons back to life. There are softwares that can turn printed text into synthesized speech, making it possible for anyone to use recordings of a person's voice to utter new things that the person never said. One of such softwares is called 'Natural Voices.'”

"The APC that we all know is a party of crooks, who are capable of doing anything, no matter how criminal to achieve their aim.”

"They tried all tricks to manipulate the election and failed. Even after wining the election, they tried to prevent Fayose from assuming office but failed."

"Now it is a fake audio clip, which is obviously targeted at the next week presidential election.”

"Another question that should be asked by discerning minds is; if indeed such a meeting took place, could any of those purported to be present at the meeting have recorded the conversation and leaked it to the APC? Or was the supposed secret meeting held in the public such that it was possible for the conversations to be recorded?"

“Nigerians, especially the people of Ekiti who overwhelmingly voted Fayose as their governor should therefore ignore this new fabricated lie coming from the APC."

Sahara Reporters released the audio recording, which also allegedly features the Minister for Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh, Chris Uba and one Honorable Abdulkareem, on February 5