2023 Polls: INEC vows to punish officials found wanting in its setback

The Independent National Electoral Commission said its officials, including ad-hoc or collation personnel, who may have been found wanting in the hiccups experienced during the conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections last Saturday would be severely punished.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who expressed regrets over the flaws gave the indication on Saturday at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja.

The INEC boss promised that the commission is working harder ahead and during next Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections to avoid challenges of February 25, 2023 elections that has generated controversy.

Yakubu disclosed that staff or ad-hoc officials and collation officers who were negligent in the last election would be excluded in next week’s exercise.

“RECs must also immediately initiate disciplinary action where prima facie evidence of wrongdoing has been established.”

Yakubu told the RECs that it was imperative for the Commission to review performances from Saturday’s election.

He noted that the elections were painstakingly done but they came with issues ranging from technology, delay by election officials, and attitudes of political party agents among others.

The INEC Chairman stated that a lot of lessons have been learnt 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.”