The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Kogi state has explained why Governor Yahaya Bello was issued with another temporary voter card, TVC, in Okene, last Friday.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Monday, the electoral umpire disclosed that the governor formally applied for the transfer of his PVC from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory to Okene local government, on the 26th of January, this year, through the electoral officer for Okene.
The statement, which was signed by INEC’s Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Ahmed Biambo, further stated that the commission acted in accordance with electoral act and guidelines.
It stressed that in granting the approval, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state acted in accordance with the provision of the law and was guided by INEC guidelines as well as procedures for such transfers.
The statement maintained that the electoral umpire did not make any preference or favour in granting the request to Bello, even as it pointed out that its response was based on the controversy that had trailed the matter.
It would be recalled that in May last year, the commission had accused the governor of double registration, after claiming that he allegedly registered at the Government House, Lokoja aside the earlier exercise the governor participated in at Wuse, Abuja in 2011, vowing to prosecute him upon the completion of his tenure.
Two officials of the commission indicted over the matter were dismissed, while another one was compulsorily retired, a development that generated fresh controversy, even as Governor Bello insisted that his ghost might have embarked on the double registration since he was not in the country when the action took place.
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