INEC in Tranquility as PDP, APC Battle Over Electoral Material Inspection

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has said it is calmly observing the ongoing battle between the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, concerning the inspection of material used for conducting the 2023 elections in the state and the Certified True Copies of documents used in declaration of same polls.

INEC, disclosed this in a statement noting that the inspection and access to CTCs were legitimate rights of political parties, adding that the process of getting them must be duly followed which include payment of requisite fees, making copies/photocopies of relevant documents and certification by the authorised official of the Commission. 

Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rivers State, noted that the electoral body has received over 50 applications in relation to the issuance of CTCs of election materials used during the just concluded 2023 general elections in Rivers State.

According to him, a good number of the applications have been processed in accordance with the date of receipt of such applications and payment of certification fees, thus, the process is still on-going.

Sinikiem is disappointed that political parties have refused to go to the local government area offices to check or inspect the documents. He therefore advised all parties to go to the local government offices to inspect the ballot papers used for the polls. 

“The Commission has also advised all applicants to visit our Local Government offices where these documents are domiciled for inspection while we work out modalities for inspection of other documents domiciled at the State office in accordance with available spaces but they insisted that the huge volumes of documents like ballot papers be brought to the state office.”

Sinikiem also assured all applicants and the general Public that INEC is committed to discharging its constitutional and lawful duties without preferences or bias.