2019: INEC reads riot act to staff

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has read the riot act to its regular and ad hoc staff for the 2019 general elections.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, yesterday, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, warned that the commission will not tolerate any act of complicity from the staff.

He said that all officials of the commission must remain neutral in the discharge of their duties and must also protect the sanctity of the process.

He however turned down applications by some support groups of candidates contesting in elections, saying only neutral observers would be accredited.

He further said that the guidelines for observer accreditation has also been revised.

Oriaran-Anthony is the third Secretary to the commission and the second woman to be so appointed since the country returned to democracy in 1999.

She has served the commission for 28 years, rising to the position of a director before her appointment as secretary.

Speaking at the ceremony, Yakubu said attention will be paid to the conduct of INEC officials across all strata.

He said: “As we approach the 2019 general elections, the commission will pay particular attention to the conduct of our own officials from the headquarters to the state and local government areas, including ad hoc staff engaged in election duties.

“We will not tolerate the complicity of staff with political actors or their agents to subvert the electoral process.

“All officials of the commission must remain neutral in the discharge of their duties and committed to protecting the sanctity of the process.”

On the request of some support groups of candidates contesting elections to observe the elections, Yakubu said such request has no basis, saying that only neutral groups are allowed to be accredited as observers.

He said: “Similarly, for the 2019 general elections, the commission has been inundated with applications from several groups within the country for accreditation to observe the elections, including support groups of candidates contesting the elections.

“This is unacceptable to the commission. Observers are neutral groups interested only in the process and not agents of political parties, candidates or campaign organisations.

“The purpose of accrediting observers for elections is a noble one intended to increase the transparency and openness of the process.”

Pointing out the importance of observers, Yakubu noted that the reports of observers serve as useful feedback to the commission.

He said: “The reports of observers also serve as a useful feedback mechanism for strengthening our process and procedures.

“It is therefore counter-productive for such an important process to become an all-comer business.”

Going forward, the commission, he said, “has revised the guidelines for accreditation of observers.”

He therefore urged all interested organisations to apply to the commission.

While welcoming the new Secretary to the commission on board, Yakubu noted that the commission has confidence in her and urged her to bring her vast experience to bear in discharging her new responsibility.

In her response, Mrs. Oriaran-Anthony described her appointment as a call to duty and therefore assured the commission and the country that she will work with the staff to do the necessary things that will impact positively to the successful outcome of the 2019 general elections.