The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted claims of removing its Igbo ad-hoc staff from election duty in Lagos State ahead of Saturday’s governorship and state assembly polls.
While many on social media claimed that the electoral umpire had yanked off its staff of Igbo origin from handling the elections, INEC has described the reports as “erroneous”.
“INEC, Lagos State, read with great surprise and concern on 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,” the HOD of Voter Education and Publicity in Lagos Tadese Adenike said in a late Thursday statement.
“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 February 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.”
