The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Monday, June 13, dismissed concerns raised by Azimio flag-bearer Raila Odinga on the capacity of Inform Lykos, the company awarded the contract, to print ballot papers.
In a detailed document, IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati differed with Raila, who claimed that Inform Lykos was responsible for the postponement of the General Election in Nigeria in February 2019.
Chebukati defended the firm, stating that it had in fact stepped in to sort out the confusion after the contracted company failed to deliver the election materials.
"Contrary to the allegation that Lykos occasioned postponement of elections in Nigeria, the company rescued the situation after the initially contracted company failed top deliver election materials as scheduled," he stated.
Chebukati added that IEBC had done its due diligence and affirmed that it had the capacity to execute its mandate as dictated in the contract.
"Prior to award of contract, the commission conducted due diligence and established that the company has the capacity to undertake printing of ballot papers and the firm will deliver its contractual obligations without sub-Contracting."
While raising his concerns with the commission during his clearance to run for the country's top seat, Raila claimed that the commission intended to sub-contract other printers, asking IEBC to ensure that there are no logistical and security lapses in the distribution of the ballot papers.
Chebukati also shot down a request by the former Prime Minister to make public details of election officials. He stated that the unlike in the past where IEBC subcontracted officers, it now hires them on permanent basis, hence terming the demand as unnecessary.
The electoral agency boss further dismissed reports that the number of voters in some counties had suspiciously grown by one million without a rational explanation.
"The Commission is neither aware of the increase nor received any report to that effect save for this memorandum. It welcomes any report that will aid in identifying any suspicious increase in voter registration," the statement read in part.
Notably, the poll body announced that it would not use a manual register to allow individuals who are not identified by the KIMS kits to vote, unless they produce documentation with details that match those captured in the kits.
"IEBC made a decision not to use the printed register of voters based on the findings of the Post-Election Report for the 2017 General Election and repeat. It was established that the use of the printed register of voters provided an avenue for misuse during the voting process,” Chebukati stated.
However, the Chairman agreed to reveal details of an audit of the voters register, including the preliminary findings by KPMG. He further noted that the commission had deleted the list of 1.1million voters from the list.
