The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has labeled the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s allegation that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) smuggled Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and voters’ registers into its Benin office as “baseless, unsubstantiated, and entirely without merit.”
On Thursday, October 10, 2024, during an inspection of electoral materials used in the Edo State governorship election, the APC raised concerns in a petition, claiming that the PDP attempted to smuggle BVAS and voters’ registers into INEC’s Benin office.
APC State Chairman Emperor Jarrett Tenebe stated that the petition should be addressed before any inspection of materials could proceed, prompting INEC to delay the inspection while promising to investigate the claim.
According to NigeriaMedia, the APC and PDP have been in conflict over the inspection of electoral materials, with the PDP seeking to use this information to support its petition at the Edo Governorship Election Tribunal.
In response to the allegations, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, asserted that a “thorough investigation into the allegations” revealed no merit in the claims.
In a statement issued on Friday in Benin, Onuoha reiterated INEC’s commitment to preserving the integrity of the electoral process. The statement read in part: “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....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
“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.”
The REC appealed to all political actors to focus on the democratic principles that unite them and to avoid actions or rhetoric that might erode public confidence in the electoral system, urging “all parties to cooperate fully” during the inspection process.
