2019: Don’t Betray Public Trust, INEC Tells Staff

The Independent National Electoral Commission, says it will not hesitate
to discipline any staff found to have betrayed public trust during the
2019 general election.

INEC Public Affairs Officer in Akwa Ibom, Mr Don Etukudo gave the warning in a statement in Uyo on Sunday.

Etukudo
urged INEC staff to ensure that the commission is able to deliver free,
fair and credible election to the people of the state in line with its
mandate.

“In the last one year, the commission has been
counselling staff on how to ensure a successful 2019 general election
and will initiate disciplinary measures on staff that compromise the
process,” he said.

He said the commission had withdrawn some
electoral officers from the field and re-assigned them to different
Local Government Areas.

According to him, the exercise is a
strategic re-organisation and re-positioning to ensure that the process
leading to the general election is foolproof.

Etukudo said the
commission was rejuvenating and re-positioning its personnel to the core
values of integrity and impartiality necessary to drive them towards
delivering on the commission’s mandate.

He urged politicians in
the state to steer clear of INEC’s staff in the forthcoming general
election by refraining from “unethical engagement” that may jeopardise
the careers of the staff.

Etukudo further said INEC staff recently elevated had been given their letters of promotion.
He
enjoined the affected staff to reciprocate the gesture by re-dedicating
and committing themselves to the mandate of the commission.