Jonathan lashes out at Obasanjo's vote rigging claim

Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan
on Saturday dismissed allegations by
ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo that
he was plotting to rig rescheduled
presidential elections next month.
A presidency statement said


Obasanjo had accused Jonathan in
the southwestern city of Abeokuta of
plotting to win the March 28 vote by
"hook and crook" and planning to
plunge the nation into crisis if he
lost.
"For the record, President Jonathan
has no such intention and will
continue to give the greatest possible
support to the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC)... to
ensure that the rescheduled elections
are successfully conducted," it said.
Turning the tables on Obasanjo, the
statement went on to also accuse him
of being the one who was plotting.
"Chief Obasanjo's plot with others
within and outside the country to
thwart the general elections and foist
an unconstitutional interim national
government, which he hopes to head,
on the nation is well known to us," it
said.
The statement added: "But by the
Grace of God Almighty, his odious
plan to return to power through the
back door will fail woefully."
Obasanjo has consistently criticised
Jonathan whom he backed for the
top job after the death of President
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in 2010.
The ex-president has drummed up
support for Muhammadu Buhari,
who is seeking to challenge Jonathan
at the polls.