Ime Akpan
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Monday that it had withdrawn a total of 25 certificates of return issued to candidates who won the 2019 election on the platforms of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers.
The commission’s chairman of information and voter education committee, Mr. Festus Okoye disclosed this at a “Forum on Media Coverage of 2019 General Elections” held in Enugu.
Okoye said 20 of the 25 certificates were withdrawn from the APC members to other APC members, two from the PDP to other PDP members while three were taken from both the APC and PDP and given to other political parties.
“Before we left INEC national headquarters on Friday; the commission has withdrawn 25 certificates-of-return from the first owners to their new owners following court orders to do that,’’ he said.
He praised the media for its openness and robust engagement with the commission before, during and after the election.
Okoye said the media had become critical stakeholders for the continual success of future elections.
He noted that the media had become the first line of reach of the masses as well as platform for explanation of INEC political and electoral decisions.
He also called on the media and its practitioners to dig deep on the electoral Act to ensure that import of the recent amended sections are made known to the public.
“The media should also centre on the aspect of using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to resolve electoral issues especially at the party levels instead of going to the court,’’ he said.
