INEC Stranded As Ad-Hoc Staff Fail To Turn Up In Ibadan For Fear Of Attack

“Many of the ad hoc staff that we used during the presidential and national assembly elections have all refused to show up,” an INEC official said

Ad hoc officials contracted by the
Independent National Electoral Commission in Ibadan North West Local
Government Area of Oyo State appear to have abandoned their polling
units.

According to information made available to
SaharaReporters, the ad hoc staff refused to show up for “fear of
attack”, after the violence that occurred during the February 23
presidential and national assembly polls.

SaharaReporters
observed that the commission has, however, rushed to contract new ad hoc
staff for the election. Many people were seen rushing to put down their
names.

Ibadan North West LGA has 11 (eleven) wards.

An
INEC official simply identified as Mr. Oluwasegun, told reporters that
those who refused to show up had been replaced. Commercial motorcylists
were also recruited to transport the new ad hoc staff to their places of
assignment.

“Many of the ad hoc staff that we used during
the presidential and national assembly elections have all refused to
show up,” he said.

“And having noticed this, we started
contracting new ones (ad hoc staff) since yesterday to fill the gap of
the ones that have refused to show up. We are now deploying them to the
various polling units and wards.”

However, the electorate in the area have raised concerns over the identity of the newly contracted ad hoc staff.

“I
just pray that the new ones (ad hoc staff) being contracted by this
commission are not party members who will do the bidding of their
principals,” a resident said.

Source:- Saharareporters