Edo Election
OpenLife Nigeria reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has debunked claims by the All Progressives Congress, APC that the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System, BVAS, submitted by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for inspection to authentic actual votes in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State was “smuggled” into INEC office.
In a statement signed by Dr Anugbum Onuoha, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Edo INEC, the Commission warns that it will not tolerate manipulations and outright falsehood.
It stated that it has investigated the claims by APC and found it to be “baseless.”
The statement is reproduced below unedited
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Edo State, has concluded its thorough investigation into the allegations made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the purported smuggling of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and voters’ registers into the INEC office by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Following a comprehensive review of the allegations, it has been determined that the allegations are baseless, unsubstantiated, and entirely without merit.
INEC maintains a steadfast commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process, and at no time were the BVAS machines or voters’ registers compromised or unlawfully accessed by any political party or external entity.
We fully understand the gravity of such claims, which is why the investigation was conducted with the utmost rigor and impartiality.
As an institution charged with the sacred responsibility of ensuring free, fair, and credible elections, INEC will not tolerate any form of malpractice or manipulation, and the integrity of all electoral materials remains fully intact.
In light of these findings, we are in full compliance with the recent court order directing the inspection of electoral materials, including
the BVAS machines and voters’ registers. INEC is prepared to facilitate this inspection process, ensuring transparency and adherence
to the rule of law. We urge all parties to cooperate fully during this process.
We appeal to all political actors to focus on the democratic principles that bind us and avoid actions or rhetoric that may undermine public confidence in our electoral system. INEC’s commitment to neutrality and excellence in electoral administration remains unwavering, and we will continue to work towards the preservation of democracy and the rule of law in Edo State and Nigeria at large.
Thank you.
Dr. Anugbum Onuoha
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
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