Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the electoral body is sticking to its previous arrangement to pick collation and returning officers from the ivory tower, and so has said that partisan, card-carrying members of political parties are not eligible to work as collation or returning officers in the 2023 general elections.
He stated that despite some unpalatable experiences, the commission will continue to rely on the academic staff of universities for the pool of personnel to handle some critical roles during elections.
Yakubu said, “For the various collation and declaration centers, the Commission draws the required Collation and Returning Officers from the academic staff of our universities, including the Vice Chancellors who serve as Returning Officers for Governorship election and State Collation Officers for Presidential election.
“Despite a few challenges, this happy partnership has further enhanced the transparency and credibility of the elections in Nigeria as well as public confidence in the process”.
The INEC chairman stressed this at a meeting with Vice Chancellors of Universities in Abuja on Thursday.
He warned however that persons who are partisan and are known to be card-carrying members of political parties must not be nominated by their institutions to fill the important roles.
“Those who have been convicted of electoral offenses are also excluded.” ,akubu stated.
Prof Yakubu said that the commission is going to double check names of nominees to ensure the guidelines are followed adding that those selected will swear oath of neutrality.
“As in previous elections, we have requested each University for a specified number and category of academic staff as contained in my letter to the Vice Chancellors.
“I must warn that staff that is card card-carrying have participated in partisan politics should not be nominated. Similarly, those who may not be involved in partisan politics but are known to have obvious political leanings should not be nominated. Those who have been convicted of electoral malpractice must be excluded.
He added, “The commission will carefully scrutinize the list which must be submitted confidentially in the manner prescribed by the Commission in my letter to the Vice Chancellors.
“Like all election duty personnel, each Collation, and Returning Officer will swear to an oath of neutrality,’ the INEC boss said.
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