The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has endorsed a petition urging it to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the Edo State governorship elections.
The petition initiated by the TAP Initiative, signed by its Executive Director, Martin Obono, and received by the commission, yesterday, in Abuja, is also calling on the commission to invite the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for question over the authorisation of the printing of two different result sheets for the election.
According to Tap Initiative, the petition is submitted under Section 26 of the 1CPC Act, 2000, which makes it an offence for any public officer to corruptly confer any advantage upon themselves or any other person through their position.
It alleged that the recent Edo State governorship elections were marred by significant irregularities, some of which were perpetrated by all political parties without exception.
The petition reads in part: “On election day, we accessed results from the INEC Result Viewer (IReV), which houses election results uploaded directly from polling units across the state. The results obtained from the IReV portal corresponded with those collated by election observers at the polling units, bearing the signatures of polling unit agents and presiding officers.
“However, after voting was concluded, INEC announced results that differed from the original data obtained from the IReV. A comparison between the result sheets from IReV and the Certified True Copies issued by INEC revealed discrepancies.
“Although the serial numbers, polling units, and wards matched, the results differed. In some cases, the number of registered voters was altered, and the signatures of the presiding officers were forged, with the signatures of polling unit agents either absent or forged.
“Additionally, a forensic examination conducted by a South African graphologist confirmed that the Certified True Copies issued by INEC were predominantly authored by a single individual.
“Others to be investigated include the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for authorising the printing of two different result sheets, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, for overseeing these fraudulent elections, and the INEC legal officer in Benin who issued the Certified True Copies.”
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