As Nigerians decides who becomes the next president of the country in the ongoing presidential election, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), His Excellency, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi OON, has identified as the voices of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar, his running mate and governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the Director General (DG), PDP Presidential Campaign Council cum governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, in a leaked audio allegedly hatching out plans to rig the election in favor of PDP.
In the viral leaked audio, circulating on social media, the voices are bearing striking similarities with that of the trio purportedly plotting to dole out money to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), incapacitate the BVAS machine among others.
Reacting to the leaked audio, on Friday February 24th 2023, in a world press conference, in Oginibo, Ughelli south local government area of the State, the SDP governorship flag bearer, a renowned Criminologist of no mean repute said the voices heard on the audio are allegedly that of Atiku, Okowa and Tambuwal.
The lawyer said the leaked audio recording confirmed his worst fears that the elections would be rigged.
The former minister of state for education, noted that revelations contained in the said recording, made public, provided evidence of alleged unwholesome practices.
The largest private investor in the State, also said the audio recording was a pointer to the fact that the former Vice president and the governors might have concluded plans to compromise the integrity of the electoral process and the integrity of their offices as Chief Security Officers in their various States.
According to him, “I confirm not only as a Criminologist or a lawyer but one that has worked very closely with Okowa, for over seven years, that, that obviously is his voice, that obviously is his mannerism, that obviously is his desperation because that is all that is left.
“But quite honestly, as a former minister of state federal Republic of Nigeria, the dual of Atiku and Tambuwal, came in consultation with the ministers’ forum.
“At one time, I was the Secretary of the ministers’ forum and a member of course. So, apart from knowing Atiku all these years, I was privileged not too long ago during the primaries consultation that Atiku came and addressed us in our office as a group of former ministers of the PDP.
“So, Atiku spoke to us for close to an hour. So, I know Atiku’s voice. Apart from that, I know Atiku’s mannerism, that obviously, is Atiku.
“I equally have the privilege of having Tambuwal, who addressed us in the same manner in the ministers’ forum and very closely”.
The dogged and fearless politician, vowed to make public the photographs of the duo who came to consult with the ministers’ forum.
Hear him: ‘I will release photographs of Atiku, Tambuwal when they addressed us in the ministers’ forum. So, I am quite conversant with all the three voices that spoke in that audio and I authenticate it as the voices of Atiku, Tambuwal and Okowa”.
Continuing, Gbagi said: “but put it this way, Nigerians have come to hear, listen to how desperate Okowa, has come to be with regards to this election that it is a do-or-die affair.
“Okowa, has now confirmed that he has compromised the BVAS for the purposes of rigging and compromising whatever the BVAS is. Everybody in the world has come to know that.
“The United Nations have come to hear that, election poll watchers from Africa, Europe and everywhere have come to know that, that he is he is gone ahead to compromise the BVAS.
“I want to reveal or declassify. I actually met an Israeli, with Okowa, who I believe have taken the responsibility to compromise the BVAS in that office, where loads of dollars and money were handled over to him.
“I have a photograph of that Israeli as well when I met him in his office. So, those I believe and I confirmed that they have done things to damage the BVAS.
“He has told you that he will bribe all INEC personnel, all of them, he will do any and everything to compromise them. You will hear from that audio while Tambuwal, in his usual characteristics was with caution as why they should do things with popularity of theirs.
“Even the presidential candidate, Atiku, was mindful but you can see the assurance been given to them with the sweat, the money and the backwardness of Deltans by Okowa, that they should forget it, they must skew everything on this planet earth to make sure that they compromise BVAS, the government, INEC people for them to get votes”.
While noting that God cannot be mocked, the philanthropist called on Deltans to wake up from slumber, “that your resolve and what you believe in that Okowa has destroyed the State beyond repair has gotten to them.
“So, they have jettison all Deltans, Nigerians and they have resolved that what they will do, is to compromise the BVAS. I know that the Israeli because I have asked a friend of mine before who said that with $8 million dollars, they will skew the election and BVAS in favour of any candidate that can pay them that money and if they don’t perform, they will refund the money.
“So, I met Okowa, as God will have it with an Israeli with a muffler, which he gave to Okowa in my present, I met when that arrangement was being put in place to rig and compromise the BVAS because anything can be done with the computer, he said.
He advised Nigerians to ensure that they watch their votes, as the lives of their children for the next eight years, our mothers and youths that have been disused and destroyed are at stake.
But the presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar has described as utter rubbish, an audio clip on social media wherein he purportedly revealed plans by himself, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to rig the presidential election.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the PDP presidential candidate, said the latest fake audio clip in circulation was a confirmation of his warning last week that the opposition would deepen its propaganda ahead of the election.
