The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has withdrawn 25 Certificates-of-Return issued to some candidates that won the 2019 general elections, following court orders.
The chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) of INEC, Festus Okoye, stated this at a `Forum on Media Coverage of 2019 General Elections’ held in Enugu on Monday.
Okoye noted that 20 of the 25 certificates-of-return were withdrawn from All Progressives Congress (APC) members to other APC members; while two from People Democratic Party (PDP) members were withdrawn and issued to other PDP members.
He said the other three were withdrawn from APC and PDP; and given to other political parties.
Okoye, however, lauded the media for its openness and robust engagement with the commission before, during and after the election, adding that the media had become critical stakeholders for the success of future elections.
He noted that the media had become the first line of reach of the masses as well as a platform for explanation of INEC political and electoral decisions.
IVEC chairman, therefore, called on the media and the practitioners to be well abreast of the Electoral Act to ensure that the import of the recent amended sections were made known to the public.
The president of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isigozu, said media practitioners enjoyed a vast and robust relationship with INEC before, during and after the elections.
Isigozu noted that INEC performed creditably given the resources and length of co-operation from other stakeholders involved in the electoral process.
In a welcome address, Enugu state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Emeka Ononamadu, noted that the evaluation of the electoral process would help to make the process better, as well as strengthen institutions and stakeholders involved in the entire process.
SOURCE : NAN
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