Election materials: We’re not biased — follow due process, INEC tells PDP, APC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers has asked political parties in the state to follow due process in inspecting materials used during the governorship election.

On Monday, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers, over the inspection of electoral materials.

The altercation occurred at the INEC office in Port Harcourt GRA.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Johnson Sinikiem, INEC resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Rivers, said the political parties should follow the process in inspecting the election materials.

He said the commission had asked political parties and their candidates to go to its offices at the LGAs to access the materials rather than insisting that they be brought to the state headquarters.

“The commission has received nearly 50 of these applications since the conclusion of the presidential, national assembly, governorship and state assembly elections in Rivers state and a good number of these applications have been processed in accordance with the date of receipt of such applications and payment of certification fees. This process is still ongoing,” the statement reads.

“The commission has also advised all applicants to visit our local government offices where these documents are domiciled for inspection while we work out modalities for inspection of other documents domiciled at the state office in accordance with available spaces but they insisted that the huge volumes of documents like ballot papers be brought to the state office.

“They are once again reminded to avail themselves of this opportunity at our local government offices to inspect these materials as earlier advised.

“The management of INEC Rivers state, therefore, wishes to assure all applicants and the general public that the commission is committed to discharging its constitutional and lawful duties without preferences or bias, and do request the cooperation and understanding of all parties and the general public to enable us to serve you better.”

Members of the PDP, again on Tuesday, protested at the INEC headquarters in the state.

The PDP members are insisting that INEC should allow them jointly inspect election materials with other political parties.