By Adeleye Kunle
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it stands by the party primaries reports received from its state offices in Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts, Track News reports.
The commission stated this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by Mr Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.
Okoye stated that the commission’s attention had been drawn to online speculations about the outcome of some recent political party primaries and related issues.
He stated that the allegations were intended to cast doubt on the commission’s integrity in the Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts, respectively.
“To clarify, the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution mandates the commission to monitor the organization and operation of political parties, including their finances, conventions, congresses, and party primaries.”
“In accordance with its constitutional and legal obligations, the commission sent monitors to the various constituencies and received reports on their activities.”
“In relation to the Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial District primaries, the commission supports the monitoring reports received from our state offices.”
“As a result, in contrast to state reports, the commission did not publish any candidate’s personal information for the two constituencies.”
“Right now, the commission is acting as a funtus officio in the two cases,” he explained.
Okoye went on to say that aggrieved parties could go to the Federal High Court and seek redress under Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act of 2022.
Concerning the issuance of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents, he stated that members of the commission’s staff had been working tirelessly, including on weekends, to meet the flood of requests received.
He stated that the commission had processed 433 requests involving the certification of 1,662,776 pages of documents as of Friday.
According to the commissioner, many of the processed CTCs were awaiting collection at the INEC Headquarters by some of the same applicants who had complained about the delay in its issuance.
“According to Section 29 (4) of the Electoral Act, any person may apply to the commission for a copy of a nomination form, affidavit, or any other document submitted by a candidate at an election.”
“Upon payment of a prescribed fee, the Commission shall issue such person a certified copy of the document within 14 days.”
“Applicants for CTC of documents should make every effort to act in a timely and legal manner,” he said.
Okoye stated that INEC would continue to uphold the integrity of the electoral process, including expanding the use of technology to improve election credibility.
