INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, Mr Mike Igini, on Tuesday said that three university lecturers had been confirmed to have been involved in electoral malpractice during the 2019 general elections.
Igini also told newsmen in Uyo, that three officials of the electoral body had also been sacked over involvement in electoral malpractice.
According to him, the three university teachers will soon be charged to court.
Igini, however, did not mention the names of the institutions and the areas where the malpractice took place.
“The lecturers, who were engaged as Collation and Returning Officers during the 2019 general elections, were reported to have manipulated and falsified election results.
“As I speak to you, not less than three of the staff of the commission from the ICT Unit and those in the rank of executive and administrative officers were also involved in actions that completely undermined the electoral process and integrity of the commission,” he said.
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He said that the suspects compromised their positions and produced outcomes contrary to the will of the people, as expressed through the ballot.
“A panel we set up subsequently established a prima facie documentary evidence of deliberate criminal manipulation of election results against the Collation/Returning Officers,” Igini said.
He said that the involvement of the three INEC staff from the ICT unit had been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
“This action has become absolutely necessary because of the unsustainable belief by some members of the public that the commission does not sanction persons involved in electoral malpractices during elections.
“We must have an institution that has integrity to protect the will of the people in any election.
“Following a formal request by the Commission, the authorities of the affected institutions released the lecturers to appear before an investigative panel set up by INEC Headquarters on Aug. 12 and 26, 2020,” he revealed.
Igini noted that the INEC workers sacked were shown the way out “in line with the extant rules and the power of the commission to appoint, dismiss and to exercise disciplinary control over its staff”. (NAN)
