The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has admitted, after initial denials that ‘fake results sheets’ were found as part of the materials deployed for the legislative rerun elections in Rivers State.
The commission however blamed the situation on the ‘printers devil’ which occurred during printing of the sensitive materials for the polls, stressing that stakeholders in Rivers were briefed and all collectively agreed to go with the exercise.
Speaking on a programme, Political Platform on Raypower FM station Monday morning, Nick Dazang, spokesman of INEC, confirmed that some of the materials deployed for the Rivers rerun were discovered to contain errors at the point of deployment.
Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State had on Saturday the day of polling, raised an alarm that fake results sheets had been procured for use by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in connivance with officials of INEC.
But the electoral body immediately denied the allegations saying all materials deployed for the polls were accurate and in order.
When asked by moderators of the radio programme if INEC did not confirm the correctness of printed materials before deployment, the spokesman said sensitive items were only unveiled at point of use.
He also insisted that stakeholders were informed of the challenges and all agreed to proceed with the polls but that the commission was taken aback when some politicians instigated disruptions and violence -based on the materials.
The INEC image maker however noted that the commission was not in a hurry to proceed with the polls which it suspended Sunday due to violence and threat to the lives of its staff and adhoc officials.
INEC after initially suspending elections in 8 local government areas, went on to declare that it had suspended the entire exercise till further notice.
The electoral body before the suspension however had released results in 10 state constituencies and one federal seat with the PDP taking all but one state legislative slot. ORDER PAPER.NG
