INEC confirms invitation of its Edo REC by Police over ‘technical issues’

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has confirmed the invitation of its Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC for Edo State, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem by Edo State Police Command, to give “insight into some technical issues”, regarding the commission’s “processes”.

Fresh Angle International can report that the confirmation was contained in a statement released today, Friday July 29, by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye Esq.

In the statement titled, “Police Invitation to Our Resident Electoral Commissioner For Edo State”, the Commission, noted: ‘Our Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC for Edo State, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, was invited and detained by the Edo State Police Command yesterday 28th July 2022 in connection with matters arising from the recent primaries conducted by a political party in the State.

“The Commission can confirm that the REC was invited. However, the Edo State Police Command has issued a statement to clarify the situation, saying that the REC was only invited to provide insight into some technical issues regarding our processes and nothing more. He was neither detained nor is he personally under investigation as media reports suggested.

“While we welcome the clarification by the Police Command, we wish to point out that any other official of the Commission assigned by the REC could have provided the required insight. Alternatively, a visit to our State Office by the Commissioner of Police or his assigned representative could have achieved the same goal as has been the tradition in our collaborative relationship with security agencies.

“For emphasis, our REC in Edo State, Dr Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, is a conscientious public officer and co-chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) at State level. He was the sitting REC when the last Governorship election was conducted in Edo State on 19th September 2020 which was adjudged to be free, fair and credible.

“Any action capable of creating the impression of harassment of our officials or infringment of the independence of the Commission must be avoided, especially at this critical period of our preparations for the 2023 General Election”.

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