The Independent National Electoral Commission
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has stated that the names of Igbo and South South residents were not removed from the list of ad hoc workers for the Lagos State Governorship and House of Assembly elections on Saturday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), speculations are circulating on social media that the electoral umpire in Lagos has removed all Igbo and South-South personnel from critical election tasks for the March 18 elections.
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening by Ms Adenike Tadese, Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, explained the situation.
“INEC, Lagos State, read on social media with great astonishment and worry in respect of the expulsion of all Igbos and South-South personnel in Lagos State from participating as ad hoc staff in the state during the approaching Governorship and House of Assembly elections on March 18,” Agbaje stated.
“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 next Governorship and House of Assembly
“The next Governorship and House of Assembly will only require the services of 427 Collation Officers because just two elections are involved.
“It is important to clarify unambiguously that Igbo staff members were all reinstated as Collation Officers in the next elections, while SPOs (Supervisory Presiding Officers) retained their posts.”
Agbaje stated that he had no phone conversations with the “Obidients, Sanwo-Olu, and Tinubu” at any time.
In reality, he claims that he does not have their phone numbers.
“Anyone has knowledge regarding the day and hour of the reported telephone call should not hesitate to make it public,” Agbaje stated.
He asked the people to avoid fake news, misinformation, and disinformation in order for INEC in Lagos to focus on the upcoming elections and attain the intended outcomes.
“The commission will continue to preserve the essential values of equality, fairness, openness, credibility, and accountability in accordance with the goal and objective of being a preeminent leader in developing electoral democracy as an unbiased election administration organization,” he stated.
