The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has replied to popular singer David Adeleke (aka Davido) over the time frame for the issuance of a Certificate of Return.
Davido is nephew to the Osun State governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
The singer, in a tweet, had sought to know why the commission had not presented his uncle with a Certificate of Return, more than 48 hours after the poll, as provided by the Electoral Law.
Replying to Davido in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the commission said it has up to 14 days to issue the winner with the Certificate of Return.
Okoye said: “Those that intervene and play roles in the electoral process should try to have basic knowledge of the constitutive legal instruments that guide and regulate the conduct of elections.
“The commission is a public trust and a creation of the Constitution and the law. It must be seen to respond to public demands for transparency and openness.”
He added: “The commission will continue to uphold the basic tenets of transparency, openness, and inclusivity in the conduct of elections and the delivery of electoral services.
“The commission is not a political party and will not be swayed by partisan political interests. Section 72 of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that a sealed Certificate of Return at an election in the prescribed form shall be issued within 14 days to every candidate who has been returned by the Returning Officer in an election under the Act.”
