INEC admits awarding contract to print sensitive election materials to alleged “APC Senator”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had admitted awarding contract for printing sensitive election materials to one Binani Printing Press, alleged to be owned by Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, also known as Binani.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, made the admission while reacting in a press release entitled “On award of contract for printing of sensitive election materials“, on March 16, 2023.
Senator Ahmed, it should be noted, is a Nigerian senator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Adamawa Central senatorial district in the 9th Assembly.
She was formerly a member of the House of Representatives representing Yola North/Yola South/Girei federal constituency as a member of the People’s Democratic Party in the 7th Assembly, between 2011 and 2015.
Barr. Okoye, however, stated amidst report that the Commission awarded a contract for the printing of sensitive election materials to the APC chieftain, that the procurements in the Commission went 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.
He said: “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.”
He added that INEC 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,” he assured. Read more.