The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it was not aware that Senator Aishatu Ahmed, an All Progressives Congress candidate for governor, was a director of Binani Printing Press Limited, a business that is producing sensitive materials for the general elections.
After media reports that a company in which the APC governorship candidate was a co-owner had secured the contract for the printing of sensitive materials for the general elections, INEC released a statement.
Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said in a statement on Thursday night that the Commission had performed due diligence with the Corporate Affairs Commission and was satisfied that the printing firm had the necessary technical capability, security awareness, 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.”