Barely six days to the
National Assembly poll,
the Chairman of the
Independent National
Electoral Commission,
Prof. Attahiru Jega, has
shuffled electoral officers
across the country.
Leaders of most of the
63 registered political
parties had at a meeting
with the INEC Chairman
on Wednesday,
complained about the
activities of some of the
electoral officers.
They had alleged that
some of them had been
compromised by state
governors and
incumbent local
government chairmen
who were acting on
behalf of some
governors.
Jega had asked for proof,
even as he promised that
he would redeploy some
electoral officers in a
manner that would not
be disruptive.
It was gathered that the
redeployment was
sequel to complaints
lodged by a majority of
the party leaders.
Confirming the
development, the Chief
Press Secretary to the
INEC Chairman, Mr.
Kayode Idowu, said, “Yes
some will receive their
letters over the
weekend. ”
He gave no further
details.
At Wednesday’s meeting,
the National Chairman of
Labour Party, Chief Dan
Nwayanwu and the
Chairman of African
Liberation Party,
Emmanuel Okereke,
expressed fears about
the credibility of some
INEC officials.
They specifically, alleged
that some state Resident
Electoral Commissioners
and members of their
staff, especially electoral
officers had remained in
their post for close to 10
years.
This, they argued, had
made some of them
cannon fodder in the
hands of governors to
the disadvantage of
opposition parties.
Jega had in response
explained that it would
be difficult to move RECs
around in a manner that
would not be disruptive,
adding however that if
they had proof against
any REC he was ready to
do what was necessary.
Giving a hint that he was
prepared to shuffle other
categories of workers, he
said, “We will carry out
the necessary
redeployment of staff
before the election but
we will also ensure that
it is not disruptive. ”
Jega also assured the
party leaders that issues
that bordered on security
implications were being
handled by security
operatives.
He said, “It will be too
much a risk for someone
to impersonate as a
security agent. ”