The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) said it opted to print all security documents for the 2023 general election within the country to support printers and grow the economy.
The commission was responding to the allegation that it awarded a printing contract to Binani Printing Press Limited, a company linked to one of the governorship candidates in one of the northern states.
Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC in Adamawa state.
Barrister Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee however explained that procurement in the commission is through open bid process and that contracts are awarded only to entities that are qualified.
He added that companies that met set criteria can be considered for role, pointing out that checks with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) did not list Aishatu as a director of the company.
A statement from commission reads.
“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”.
