Anambra guber: INEC refutes report that its ad hoc workers, drivers resigned for fear of IPOB
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted reports that its ad-hoc staff resigned over threats by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Mr. Nwachukwu Orji, said the Commission is still recruiting ad hoc staff members.
Reports had it that ad hoc staff of INEC terminated their appointment en mass over IPOB-linked threats ahead of the governorship election in the state.
It had been reported that drivers and majority of the ad hoc workers already recruited said they were no longer interested in the job for fear of their lives.
INEC had, between May and early June, announced the increment of polling units in Anambra State, which used to be 4,608, to 5,720.
Besides, the Commission announced that it would require about 10,000 ad hoc workers for the election to be a success.
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However, Orji described such reports as false and without substance.
Speaking with the NAN, Orji said, “INEC is still in the process of recruiting the Adhoc workers, in fact we just finished the Adhoc training before this false report.
“As the head of the Commission in Anambra, I am telling you authoritatively that we have more than enough manpower for the conduct of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra,” he said.
Few days ago, IPOB issued a statement through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, that if its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is not released on November 4, it would declare another sit-at-home in Igbo land between November 5 and 10.
If the pro-Biafra group succeeds, it would disrupt the conduct of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.
Anambra 2021 Governorship election is slated for November 6.
Besides, President Muhammadu Buhari had, on Saturday, declared that nothing would stop the conduct of Anambra State governorship election.
Also, Governor Willie Obiano had promised that nothing would stop the November 6 poll.
Governor Obiano spoke in Awka, the state capital, through his Information and Public Enlightenment Commissioner C. Don Adinuba.
But the INEC source, in Awka, regretted that the commission was facing a serious challenge ahead of the election.
The source said: “That is our situation now. Nothing seems to be working for us in this election because no one wants to lose his or her life because of IPOB.
“It is a big challenge facing us. Many of the ad hoc workers already recruited are throwing in the towel because of the IPOB threats; even the drivers, who we always use to distribute the materials.
“All of them contacted, told us they are not interested. So, our hands are tied. These people called IPOB have really dealt with the people of the South East.
“If nothing is done urgently, the election we’ve been preparing for, for so long a time may not hold; even if it holds, who is prepared to risk his or her life to come out?”
