Fatshimetrie, the renowned political reporting agency, recently published an article regarding the allegations levelled against INEC in Edo State. According to the article, INEC has denied allegations of obstructing the inspection of election materials and BVAS machines used during the governorship election.
Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, has clearly stated that the allegations of obstruction by the PDP and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, were baseless, misleading and devoid of truth. He was keen to point out that the commission had set a date for the inspection of the materials at its headquarters in Benin, demonstrating its commitment to transparency and integrity in electoral processes.
Onuoha stressed that the fundamental right of political parties to inspect election materials was respected by INEC, and that this was essential in the context of electoral appeals. He said that INEC had a legal obligation to facilitate the inspection and that no political party had been prevented from participating.
It was therefore unfortunate that unproven accusations were being spread without prior contact with INEC. Onuoha urged parties wishing to inspect the materials to follow due process and assured them that they would be granted unhindered access to do so.
As a pillar of democracy, INEC remains committed to transparency and fairness in electoral processes. The institution is fully committed to ensuring that elections are conducted freely, fairly and responsibly.
Fatshimetrie strongly supports the rule of law and truth in electoral matters and calls on all stakeholders to cooperate within the framework of the rules established by law. The search for truth and the defence of the integrity of elections remain at the core of the values upheld by INEC and the entire political community.
This case highlights the importance of respecting legal procedures and demonstrating transparency in electoral processes, in order to ensure public trust and respect for democracy.