Integrity of INEC ad-hoc staff essential for credible elections – REC

By Folorunsho Alagbede

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Osun State, Dr Mutiu Agboke has asserted that for successful conduct of elections in Nigeria, ad-hoc staff must display a high level of integrity, efficiency and professionalism.
Agboke made the assertion at the third INEC consultative meeting with election stakeholders Tuesday in Osogbo.
The theme of the meeting was, ‘2023 General Election: Recruitment, Training and Deployment of Ad-hoc Personnel: Issues, Challenges, and Recommendations for Future Credible Elections in Nigeria’.
While agreeing that ad-hoc staff served as the backbone of the electoral process especially during the 2023 general election, Agboke held that several challenges were encountered.
He also insisted that INEC has resolved to address the issues head on hence the need to reflect on the experience of the 2023 general election with a particular focus on the recruitment, training and deployment of the ad-hoc personnel.
He said, “Today, we are gathered to reflect on the experiences of the 2023 General Election with a particular focus on the recruitment, training, and deployment of ad-hoc personnel-one of the most critical elements in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
“The successful conduct of any election relies heavily on the integrity, efficiency, and professionalism of the ad-hoc staff who serve as the backbone of the process.
“In the 2023 General Election, like in previous elections, the recruitment, training, and deployment of these personnel were key to ensuring that the electoral process was conducted in a transparent and credible manner.
“However, it is also clear that challenges were encountered, and as a Commission, we must not shy away from addressing these issues head-on, hence the need for interrogation of the previous processes, procedures and the aftermath of the election particularly as they relate to the conduct of the ad-hoc staff, political gladiators and other critical stakeholders, with a view to enhancing the future exercise.”