The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is working with security agencies to arrest and prosecute those responsible for circulating a fake correspondence claiming the commission resolved issues concerning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) meeting and the postponement of the Ekiti congress/governorship primary.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, the commission urged the public to disregard the letter, stressing that it “did not emanate from the commission.”
Eta-Messi said INEC’s attention had been drawn to the forged correspondence, dated Nov. 10 and purportedly issued and signed by the Secretary to the Commission.
She stated: “The commission hereby states unequivocally that the said correspondence did not emanate from the office of the secretary to the commission, nor any official channel of INEC.”
According to her, preliminary findings showed that the secretary’s signature had been forged by “unscrupulous elements.”
She added: “Consequently, the general public, political parties and the media are strongly advised to disregard the contents of the said correspondence in its entirety, as it is fake.”
Eta-Messi described the act of forgery and circulation of false documents as a serious electoral offence and a deliberate attempt to mislead Nigerians.
She said: “INEC wishes to use this medium to appeal to persons engaging in such futile, criminal and disruptive activities to desist forthwith in the interest of electoral integrity and peace.”
Eta-Messi noted that the commission is collaborating with security agencies to investigate the matter and ensure that perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted in line with the law.
