We didn’t know Guber candidate is the owner of firm awarded printing of elections material – INEC

We didn’t know Guber candidate is the owner of firm awarded printing of elections material – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued its position on the viral claim that a company owned by an All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Aishatu Ahmed, was one of the firms that printed sensitive materials for the general elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the electoral commission said it was not aware that the APC chieftain was one of the directors of Binani Printing Press Limited that took part in the printing of the election sensitive materials.

Okoye explained that before giving Binani Printing Press Limited parts of the job, the Commission had conducted due diligence with the Corporate Affairs Commission and was satisfied that the printing company met the requisite technical capacity, security consciousness and expertise in printing security documents.

“However, Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed was not listed as one of the Directors of Binani Printing Press Limited,” the statement noted.

Okoye’s statement read in part:” Our attention has been drawn to a news report that the Commission awarded a contract for the printing of sensitive election materials to Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed. It was alleged in the report that she owns Binani Printing Press Limited.

“Procurements in the Commission go through open competitive bidding and Binani Printing Press Limited was one of the security printing companies that applied to print security documents for the Commission. After inspecting the company’s facility and carrying out due diligence at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Commission was satisfied that they are qualified printers with the requisite technical capacity, security consciousness and expertise in printing security documents. However, Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed was not listed as one of the Directors of Binani Printing Press Limited.

“The Commission decided to print all the security documents for the 2023 General Election in the country to help Nigerian printers and assist in growing the national economy.

“The Commission will continue to carry out due diligence in its procurement activities.”