INEC denies smuggling Edo election materials into office

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Friday, refuted an allegation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) smuggled Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and voters’ registers into its Edo State head office.

The APC on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in the course of inspecting electoral materials used for the Edo State governorship election, drew the attention of the Commission to its petition alleging that the PDP which was in the INEC facility for materials inspection for the Edo State governorship election on Wednesday smuggled BIVAS and Voters’ Register into the Commission’s Benin office.

Edo State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, made the allegation on Thursday that the petition should be addressed before commencing inspection of materials.

The APC and the PDP have been at loggerheads over the inspection of electoral materials which the PDP said it wants to use to flesh up its petition at the Edo Governorship Election Tribunal.

Responding to the allegation in a statement, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Edo State, said the Commission’s “thorough investigation into the allegations” shows that the allegation has no merit.

Onuoha reiterated INEC’s commitment to maintaining and upholding the integrity of the electoral process.

“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,” Onuoha said.

“We fully understand the gravity of such claims, which is why the investigation was conducted with the utmost rigour 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.”

Meanwhile, the Edo PDP Youth Movement on Friday called on INEC to rise above political interference and fulfill its duty by facilitating an impartial review of the BVAS machines and other materials.

They said anything less would be a betrayal of democracy and a disservice to the people of Edo State, to whom INEC’s primary loyalty should be.

“As party members, we want to restate that we will not relent in our efforts to expose this broad daylight robbery and reclaim the mandate that was duly given to the PDP by the majority of Edo people,” they said.

“We call on INEC to rise above political interference and fulfill its duty by facilitating an impartial review of the BVAS machines and other materials. Anything less would be a betrayal of democracy and a disservice to the people of Edo State, to whom INEC’s primary loyalty should be.”