Rescheduled Elections Could Encounter Setback In 13 States Due To INEC Staff Shortage



Our checks show that 205 staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all playing crucial roles, have been interdicted by the commission for the past 22 months. The affected officials are either Electoral Officers (EOs) or Heads of Department (HoDs) saddled with logistics and operational duties at all levels. One source expressed certainty that INEC Electoral Officers and other critical field officials from 13 states, all numbering 205, will not be participating in the exercise.

The rescheduled 2019 elections may suffer yet another setback as no fewer than 13 states are battling with a shortfall of critical field staff, SaharaReporters can report.

Adamawa, Anambra, Cross Rivers, Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Osun and Taraba are some of the states already on the red alert, according to investigations.

Our checks show that 205 staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all playing crucial roles, have been interdicted by the commission for the past 22 months. The affected officials are either Electoral Officers (EOs) or Heads of Department (HoDs) saddled with logistics and operational duties at all levels.

Sources within the commission have raised the alarm about another possible flop, saying, "Saturday's rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections may still suffer another setback, due to the huge gap of experience created by the interdiction.”

One source expressed certainty that INEC Electoral Officers and other critical field officials from 13 states, all numbering 205, will not be participating in the exercise.

Worse still, the commission has not competently replaced the loss of manpower, thereby exposing the process to a plethora of problems as witnessed last week.

It was gathered that Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the affected 13 states have made several appeals about shortfall of staff, but to no avail.

For instance, Kashim Gaidam, REC of Adamawa State, was said to have cried out the loudest about "manpower shortfall". SaharaReporters gathered that majority of those currently handling both professional and technical roles were drawn from menial staff, like security and cleaners.

In Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa, the current Electoral Officer was recruited as a guard by the commission. The situation is virtually the same in a good number of other places. Jada is both hometown and local government origin of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

As to how and why the 205 were interdicted, SaharaReporters further learnt that about 1,000 INEC staff across the country were implicated in the alleged Diezani Alison-Madueke $90 billion loot.

One of the interdicted staff told SaharaReporters: "For us, the hullabaloo about INEC staff accepting gratification from the alleged Diezani loot was the Chairman's invented way of conducting the elections with incompetent hands.

"The allegation is that we accepted gratification from proceeds of Diezani's loot through West Africa Network on Observer (WANO), an accredited election monitoring organisation.

"Yes, WANO partnered INEC in 2015 and they were domiciled right within INEC office, where they gave all of us cash grants for logistics support. This was done in the open, there was nothing hidden about it.

"Later, we were summoned to Abuja and asked to refund the money, that it was from the Diezani loot, and we did. Afterwards, we received letters of interdiction from INEC headquarters that we had been found guilty of an offence we were neither investigated nor queried about.”

It is curious, however, that the interdiction has now lasted for 22 months. What is more disturbing is that the commission is faced with acute manpower needs at this critical time. Also, some staff of the commission, who are currently standing trial, in connection to various scandals have not been interdicted.

This, SaharaReporters can report based on facts available, seeing the Admin Secretary in Bauchi and Anambra have both been indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the Diezani saga but have not been interdicted.

Another interdicted staff member said: "Also curious is how the staff remained suspended despite confirmation by EFCC, that the 205 staff were not liable to prosecution regarding the matter at hand.”

When contacted to react on the matter, Gaidam admitted to having made spirited efforts for the reinstatement of the interdicted staff from his Adamawa office. However, he refuted claims that the interdiction could jeopardise the polls. "If Gaidam falls down right now elections will go on hitch-free," he maintained.

Asked for how long the staff would remain suspended, Gaidam said: "The issue is before the National Chairman, please direct the question to him.”

He also alluded to the fact that justice needed to be done on the matter, saying: “Without justice any system of government will collapse."

http://saharareporters.com/2019/02/20/alert-rescheduled-elections-could-encounter-setback-13-states-due-inec-staff-shortage

To

After 4years, abeg who has long legs, I need to become a staff member of INEC. Collecting salaries and allowances for four years, now it's time to do one of their major jobs, it's story telling all the way.

For God's sake what is wrong with everything in Nigeria
After 4 whooping years

Pure lies from the SR.

INEC has got enough manpower in all their offices across the country. So many people were employed to join the already existing staff at INEC after the 2015 general elections.

This report is so poor that the focus of the reporter is on Adamawa state.
There's no truth about all what the reporter has said.

Please this election should come and go make we hear word.

They have come again.

Is it because of the plane that didn't transport the money?

Election no be war na

Adamawa, Anambra, Cross Rivers, Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Osun and Taraba are some of the states already on the red alert, according to investigations.

Notice carefully, you'll discover that the states earmarked are states that everyone is sure PDP will win.

These guys are just joking

This is how they will do and declare the election inconconclusive just to rig it

APC rigging won't save u guys from defeat.

Atiku is coming..

They are just looking for how to stagger the polls.

Say no to staggered elections!

Inec should Kuku declare Atiku the winner make peace reign finally

They Sha wanna find all way to use federal might

Nice one

Interesting

Stop spreading panic news

hmm.. is this GOVT trying to postpone this election again!!!

Bunch of losers

WTF is wrong with INEC, that illiterate parading himself as a professor is incompetent.

bring back Jega

That incompetent Yakubu is trying so hard to set this country in blazes.


Why can't the acclaimed professor conduct this election without hitches?

I wonder who made him a professor with such level of incompetence and stupidity.


#We say no to staggered elections

why

They had about 4 years to prepare for this. I don't understand.

Wat a country

Atiku is from Adamawa.....


Hmmm

The election might not hold or it will be held in some states

If only our youth get sense.

faithfull18:
After 4years, abeg who has long legs, I need to become a staff of INEC. Collecting salaries and allowances for four years, now it's time to do one of their major jobs, it's story telling all the way.

As in ehn.. Just one major job after four years and all these uncertainties.

So pathetic

If there is truth in this then it's obvious that APC is up to something. Those are states Atiku has high chances.

Jeezuzpick:
They are just looking for how to stagger the polls.

Say no to staggered elections!

Any attempt to stagger the polls, the entire process shall be voided. We Nigerians are not fools. APC can go ahead and start the war that will eventually split this country

Observing! But don't think this will stop the elections in those states. MO.

My confidence is that welther the election hold or not, Buhari remain Nigeria president till 2023.

GEJ and JEGA really did a great job!

This government or administration is a total failure!

See what northern agenda has led us to??
When there are competent hand that can handle the job are on ground but tribal bigotry has mask oga att the top

inconclusive electoral commission