INEC debunks Bode George’s claim of commission ICT director being Tinubu ally

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied the claim by a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, that an ally of Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the commission’s director of ICT department.

According to INEC, there is no iota of truth in George’s claim as no member of its ICT staff or personnel across its state offices bears the name “Femi Odubiyi” as referred to by the PDP chieftain.

George, the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, had in a recent statement asked the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to explain the circumstances that led to Odubiyi’s alleged appointment by the commission to head “a critical department before, during and after elections”

Odubiyi is a former Commissioner for Science and Technology in Lagos State. He was sacked while serving under the administration of the then Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

Bode George had said in his statement on Sunday: “Today, millions of Nigerians are disputing the outcome of the February 25 presidential elections and some candidates are already in court. BVAS and IReV are very critical in the legal process that is going on.

“Nigerians are already asking Prof. Mahmood Yakubu: How did this man, former Commissioner in Lagos State, find his way into INEC, not just any Department but a critical one like ICT? That department is very sensitive. Why should a follower of a presidential candidate be deployed to man a sensitive department like ICT in an election year?

“How did he even get his way into INEC? Do we have acolytes of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and other candidates heading other departments in INEC? Nigerians need to know. Was there no background check by security agents before this man was chosen to head ICT? How do we want the world to look at us when somebody close to a presidential candidate decides what goes on in the ICT department?