INEC sacks 30 officials over election-related offences

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sacked 30 of its officials accused of aiding electoral malpractices across the country during the 2011 general election, Premium Times reports.

According to the online medium, 16 of the dismissed officials were punished for their alleged involvement in election-related offences in Anambra State in which elections are usually tainted by alleged rigging and thuggery.

Other states, whose elections led to the dismissal of INEC officials, are Imo (3), Edo (1), Zamfara (1), FCT (1), Delta (1), Oyo (2), Rivers (1), Lagos (1), and Osun (2).

Premium Times further reported that an official at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja was also shown the door for allegedly colluding with politicians to perpetrate electoral fraud.

The electoral body is also prosecuting nine out of its 12 officials apprehended for committing various forms of electoral offences during the governorship elections in six states.

Two out of the 12 electoral offenders have been discharged and acquitted while one was convicted.

According to a letter to a civil society group, Say No Campaign, in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, INEC said those dismissed or whose appointments were terminated committed offences such as refusal to carry out lawful duties and misleading the Commission, misconduct, disappearance with money meant for payment of allowances of ad-hoc staff, withholding ballot papers, manipulation of election results and possession of DDC machines.

Others offences listed are allegation of illegal entries in the register of voters and attempt to make use of left-over money.

The letter, dated July 14 and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Augusta Ogakwu, was in response to a request by the civil group on June 9 in accordance with the FOI Act, for the list of the electoral offenders.

The group, Say No Campaign is a coalition of civil society organisations committed to fighting corruption, impunity, poverty, violence and other governance challenges in the country.

According to the document, made exclusively available to the online medium, the 16 officials axed in connection with the Anambra election committed the same offence: 'Allegation of wrong entries in the register of voters.'

All 16 officials , who were either electoral officers or those drawn from ICT and Audit Units of the election body for election duty, had their appointments terminated by INEC

The remaining 14 staff were either compulsorily retired or dismissed in 2011.

The most senior officer among them who hails from in Imo State was on Grade Level 16. He was retired for 'refusal to carry out lawful directives and misleading the Commission.'

Another officer dismissed while on Grade Level 15 is from Edo State. He was found guilty of wrongful recruitment and deployment of a collation officer whose name was given as Dr. Paul. Premium Times