The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has withdrawn 25 certificates-of-return issued to some candidates that won during the 2019 elections in obedience to court orders.

The Commission’s Chairman on Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye stated this on Monday while speaking at a forum on media coverage of the polls in Enugu.

Okoye noted that 20 of the 25 certificates-of-return were withdrawn from members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and given to other APC members.

He said two certificates were withdrawn from members of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and given to other members of the party while the other three were withdrawn from APC and PDP and given to other political parties.

His words: “Before we left INEC national headquarters on Friday, the Commission had withdrawn 25 certificates-of-return from the first owners to their new owners following court orders to do that.”

While lauding the media for its openness and robust engagement with the Commission before, during and after the election, Okoye stressed that the media had become critical stakeholders for the continual success of future elections in the country.