Electoral officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State have reacted angrily to their deployment from the 23 local government areas of the state by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Johnson Alalibo Sinikike.
Some of the aggrieved officers argued that it was not in the country’s interest to leave their positions in the upcoming elections less than a month away.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization, complained that they were denied the opportunity to use their experience to ensure credibility in the upcoming elections.
They also claim that the REC replaced them with INEC staff from outside the state, adding that Rivers was the only state whose staff was replaced.
According to them, it is improper to remove the 14th and 15th rank cadres and replace them with the 9th and 10th rank cadres.
A new MoU signed by the INEC Administrative Secretary, Richter Alabraba, redeployed the former EOs to audit, shop and REC offices, while the REC retained only the EO of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Municipality.
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According to one of the EOs, the REC should reconsider the sudden transfer of the EOs for the interest of the electorate.
He emphasized that experience matters in the outcome of real elections.
“This is a serious matter that needs to be addressed immediately so that the forthcoming elections in Rivers State are free, fair and credible,” he said.
“Not waking up one morning and remembering that leadership was different. Experienced and experienced election officials in local government areas, are needed.“
Just a few weeks before the election, what is the motivation to recall the office. As I speak to you, the atmosphere at the INEC headquarters in Rivers State is very tense.
“Rivers state is the only state in Nigeria where polling officers and polling assistants are not recalled from the state.”
It is the only state where the indigenes of the state are marginalized and not allowed to take decisions on voter protection. In his response, Rivers explained to the REC that there is nothing wrong with the transfer of the EO, saying it is a purely administrative process.
He said if the aggrieved drivers had not complained to the newspaper when it was published earlier, they had no reason to complain now.
“When they post them in municipal areas, does it get into the media? Administratively, they can move to other positions. That’s all I can say,” REC said.
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