The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied stopping south-east and south-south ad-hoc staff from participating in this weekend’s Lagos state governorship election.
Reacting to the claim made on social media, Tadese Adenike, HOD, voter education and publicity in Lagos, stated that while 738 ad-hoc staff (collation officers) were engaged during the national elections, the forthcoming governorship and house of assembly will only require the services of 427 collation officers because only two elections are involved.
Adenike also said 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.
The HOD of voter education and publicity in Lagos also debunked claim of Olusegun Agbaje, INEC REC in Lagos, being in cahoots with some political actors to rig the gubernatorial election in the state.
The statement read;
“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.
“Whoever has information concerning the day and time of the said telephone conversation should not hesitate to make it public.
“Going by the above frivolous allegations, it is obvious that the orchestrated stories were fabricated to impugn INEC and taint the reputation of Mr Olusegun Agbaje MFR, mni the honourable resident commissioner INEC Lagos state.
“Without mincing words, Mr Olusegun Agbaje MFR, mni is a man of integrity, sincerity, fully committed and dedicated to the service of the commission and the entire citizens of Nigeria irrespective of ethnicity or political affiliation.
“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.”