The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it was not responsible for the leakage of the viral audio clip of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo.
Obi had, in the viral audio clip, urged Oyedepo to speak to the Christians in the South-West geopolitical zone and Kwara State to vote for him in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
The LP presidential flag-bearer also described the presidential poll as a “religious war”.
Reacting to the reactions that trailed the leakage of the audio, the NCC, in a statement issued on Tuesday, April 4 by its spokesperson, Reuben Muoka, said the commission doesn’t track or leak telephone conversations of any Nigerian.
Muoka stated: “By the provisions of the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA) 2003 and other extant Laws of the Federation, the Commission does not and cannot ‘track’ nor ‘leak’ telephone conversations of anyone.
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“The Commission has reported the allegations, which we take seriously, to relevant security agencies for proper investigation and necessary action.
“The Commission restates its commitment to discharge its responsibilities to the Nigerian people in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the NCA 2003; and other extant Laws of the Federation; and global best practices.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission denies these allegations and advises the public to disregard them.”
The LP Presidential Campaign Council had urged Nigerians to disregard any insinuation of religious bigotry linked to the audio clip.
The council added that Obi only urged Oyedepo to speak to Christians because other politicians in the country took the 2023 elections as a religious war.
Oyedepo, in his reaction, said he never campaigned for any politician or spoken on their behalf in the build-up to the 2023 general election in the country.
The cleric stated that all political parties sought his prayers and advice before the elections, stressing that he advised the politicians.
