“There are security concerns, our reputation as a Commission and as a people is at stake”
The Independent National Electoral Commission has completed the bidding exercise for the printing of ballot papers for the April elections, GidiGlobe findings on Friday have revealed.
Both local and international firms applied for the job, but the commission has declined to state the identities of the companies involved, and their number.
It was gathered that with the bidding exercise and security screening completed, INEC is inclined towards engaging a major international firm for the ballot paper printing.
A source at the commission explained that though local firms turned in their bids, it doubted their chances of being considered.
Besides, the desperation of politicians to win at all costs and the obvious serious security questions in the country are also being considered by the electoral body.
To ensure that no lapses were recorded, it was learnt that the commission co-opted security agencies at various stages of the process.
This, a source in the Commission said was done with a view to forestalling a repeat of the events of 2007 where ballot papers meant for the elections were abandoned at an airport in South Africa long after the elections.
The source said while the Commission appreciated strides made by Nigerian printing firms, it was not prepared to leave anything to chance as the stakes attached to the April polls were very high.
The source said, “We cannot leave anything to chance; there are security issues and our reputation as a Commission and that of our country is at stake.
“We cannot afford any leakages; you know how desperate politicians everywhere (especially in Nigeria) can be.”
Findings by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that although some Nigerian firms with foreign affiliations were among bidders for some of the jobs, events of the past were likely to work against them.
Apart from ballot-paper printing, other items to be contracted bear on thumb printing ink and pads, ballot boxes, vests, among others.
Under the Prof.Maurice Iwu-led INEC, some Nigerian firms that purportedly had foreign associates, breached contract pact, and complicated the process in consequence.
When contacted on the preparedness with regard to printing of ballot papers, the INEC Director of Information and Public Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Umenger, said there was no cause for alarm.
He explained that the Prof. Attahiru Jega-led INEC had since it came on board about seven months ago, mapped out strategies on how to tackle the challenge of conducting credible elections.
He said, “The planning for the April elections started long ago. The bidding process for the ballot papers has been concluded.
“We started planning for this right from the beginning of this administration.
“This particular INEC places a lot of premium on transparency, we want to maintain that transparency in everything that we do.
“There is nothing that we will do under the table; everything will be done transparently.”
However, he declined to give details on the firms that won the bid and terms of the engagement.
However, our correspondents gathered that a leading European firm with varied interests in Nigeria is likely to clinch a large chunk of the contracts.
On plans by INEC to ensure that the mistakes of the 2007 polls are not repeated, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said the electoral body was in firm control of the process.
He said, “The process of taking decisions is on course. You know that potential printers also give a timeline for printing.
“They give a timeline to say if we get the order now, this is when we expect to deliver.
Asked when the contracts would be signed, Idowu said, “I can’t say anything on that.
“The commission has gone round, inspected some facilities. The process is on course.
“The commission has nominees out of which it would make a choice.
“The process is on course. As I said, the commission is fully aware of that and has factored it in. That is why the process is on course.”
The recently concluded voter registration exercise, witnessed violations that have raised INEC security consciousness.
No fewer than 182 persons were arrested for voter registration offences, with Anambra, Oyo, and Ogun states topping the list.
On the conduct of polls, INEC said it was increasing the level of its interface with civil society and the security services in a bid to improve security for its members of staff and election materials before during and after the polls.
In one such recent meetings, the INEC Chairman, Jega expressed publicly, the commission’s fears.
He said, “One challenge that remains largely outside our control is security. This involves not only the security of our materials and personnel, but also issues of political violence.
No comments:
Post a Comment