The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and ad-hoc or Collation Officers, who might have flouted the Commission’s guidelines during the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, would not go unpunished.
INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Saturday, in Abuja, gave the assurance, during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners.
In his words, “As we approach the Governorship and State Assembly elections, we must work harder to overcome the challenges experienced in the last election. Nothing else will be acceptable to Nigerians,” he warned.
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“All staff found to be negligent, whether they are regular or ad hoc officials, including Collation and Returning Officers, must not be involved in forthcoming elections.
“RECs must also immediately initiate disciplinary action where prima facie evidence of wrongdoing has been established.”
Yakubu be acknowledged that the commission had learned a lot of lessons from the presidential elections ahead of the Governorship and State Assembly elections.
“No doubt, last week’s national elections raised a number of issues that require immediate, medium, and long-term solutions. The planning for the election was painstakingly done.
“However, its implementation came with challenges, some of them unforeseen. The issues of logistics, election technology, the behaviour of some election personnel at different levels, and the attitude of some party agents and supporters added to the extremely challenging environment in which elections are usually held in Nigeria.
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“We appreciate the sacrifice and doggedness of Nigerians and the dignity and maturity displayed by political leaders even in the context of divergent views about the election. A lot of lessons have been learnt.
“Of immediate concern to the Commission is how the identified challenges can be addressed, as we approach the concluding phase of the general elections, involving the largest number of constituencies; i.e. 28 State Governorship elections and 993 State Houses of Assembly seats.”
