INEC to probe alleged fake materials in Rivers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will investigate alleged distribution of fake result sheets in some polling units in Saturday’s legislative re-run elections in Rivers.

The commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Osaze-Uzzi also told NAN that the commission would also investigate other allegations raised during the conduct of the election.

He, however, insisted that there was no way fake election materials could have been distributed by INEC’s election officers.

“Was there really distribution of fake result sheets? How did the people know that they are fake?

“The allegation will be investigated, anyway.

“We are having a meeting on Wednesday with the Rivers Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Monitors and Supervisors who went to the state for the election.

“This issue will be raised there; thereafter, we will issue a public statement on our findings.

“We will also investigate any allegation that has been raised and backed with fact,” Osaze-Uzzi said.

On when the commission would release the remaining results of the election, he said that decision on it would be taken at the Wednesday meeting.

“We are not going back to the state until the atmosphere is conducive to have a violent-free election.

“But I don’t want to pre-empt anything ahead of the Wednesday meeting.”

On update about electoral officers abducted during the Saturday election, Osaze-Uzzi said that he was yet to be briefed on the matter.

“I cannot speak categorically on that, but I was told that some of the people we are much concerned about have been released.

“But regrettably, I think we lost a youth corps member but I can’t state categorically,” he added.