INEC Breaks Silence On Why They Can’t Recognize Lawan, Akpabio As APC Senatorial Candidates

By Adeleye Kunle

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that only reports received from its state offices will be used to recognize candidates who have emerged for party primaries.

Festus Okoye, the INEC Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, revealed this on Saturday.

According to him, aspirants who disagree with the names submitted by their parties should file a legal challenge to the conduct and outcome of such primary elections.

Okoye specifically stated that INEC has not recognized Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former Niger Delta Minister Godswill Akpabio as All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for Yobe North and Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial districts, respectively, as APC candidates.

He also revealed that, contrary to the State reports it received, the Commission did not publish any candidate’s personal information for the two constituencies.

The INEC Commissioner urged members of the public to disregard claims that the electoral body has recognized both Lawan and Akpabio as candidates, pointing out that the electoral body excluded the names of candidates for both constituencies and stands by party primaries reports from its state officers.

“The Commission’s attention has been drawn to online speculations about the outcome of some recent political party primaries and related issues.” “In particular, allegations intended to undermine the Commission’s integrity have been made in relation to the Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts,” the statement reads.

“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 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, the Commission did not publish any candidate’s personal information for the two constituencies that differed from the State reports.

“Right now, the Commission is acting as a funtus officio in both cases.” Dissatisfied parties may petition the Federal High Court for redress, as provided in Section 285 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution, 1999 (as amended) and Sections 29(5) and 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022.”

Okoye also stated in the statement that many applicants who complain about the inability or delay in obtaining certified true copies (CTCs) of documents are the ones who have not picked them up.

He stated that INEC staff had been working tirelessly, including on weekends, to make CTCs available, and that as of Friday, 433 requests had been processed and were ready for collection.