INEC Opens Up About Removing Igbo Staff From Guber Election Duty In Lagos

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied removing south-east and south-south ad-hoc staff for Saturday’s governorship election in Lagos State.

A Twitter user had on Wednesday alleged that INEC excluded Igbo and south-south staff from sensitive election duty ahead of the March 18 poll.

“The INEC office in Lagos has removed all Igbo and South-South staff in the State from sensitive election duties for the March 18th election.

“They did not give any reason, but it was said that the INEC leadership which takes directives from the Tinubu political group said they do not trust the Igbo/SS staff to do as they will want them to do at the election.

INEC is supposed to be a neutral federal agency, but they have been badly compromised beyond recognition.” the tweet reads.

#JUSTIN: The @inecnigeria office in Lagos has removed all Igbo and South-South staff in the State from sensitive election duties for the March 18th election.

They did not give any reason, but it was said that the INEC leadership which takes directives from the Tinubu political…

— Omotayo Williams (@KadunaResident) March 15, 2023

INEC Denies Removing Igbo Staff From Election

In a statement signed by Tadese Adenike, HOD, voter education and publicity in Lagos, the INEC denied the allegation, saying it read the report on social media with “great surprise”.

The statement reads, “INEC, Lagos State, read with great surprise and concern on the social media in respect of the removal of all Igbos and South South staff in Lagos State from participating as ad hoc staff in the state during the forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly elections on March 18.

“It has become imperative to correct the erroneous accusations in some quarters and put the record straight that the Ad hoc staff (Collation Officers) engaged during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections on Feb. 25 in Lagos State were 738 in number, bearing in mind that three elections were held.

“The forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly will only require the services of 427 Collation Officers because only two elections are involved.

“It is pertinent to state unequivocally that members of staff that are Igbos were all returned to work as Collation Officers in the forthcoming elections while SPOs (Supervisory Presiding Officers) maintained their positions.”

Agbaje said that he did not at any point in time engage in any phone conversation with the “Obidients, Sanwo-Olu and Tinubu”. According to him, he does not have their telephone numbers.

Agbaje added, “Whoever that has information concerning the day and time of the said telephone conversation should not hesitate to make it public”.

“The public should shun fake news, misinformation and disinformation and allow INEC in Lagos state focus on the forthcoming election in order to achieve the desired result.”

“The commission will continue to uphold the fundamental principles of equity, fairness, transparency, credibility and accountability in line with the vision and mission to be a pre-eminent leader in deepening electoral democracy as an unbiased election management body,” he said.

PRESS RELEASE
The Commission’s Lagos Office Debunks Alleged Exclusion of Nigerians From Certain Regions as Ad-Hoc Staff For Governorship/State Houses of Assembly Elections pic.twitter.com/kQIlwZbpLG

— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) March 15, 2023

KanyiDaily recalls that the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on election security recently met at the INEC headquarters in Abuja in preparation for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.