No fewer than 500 trained ad hoc collation and returning officers on Saturday morning besieged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s office in Imo state in protest.
The protesting ad hoc staff accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Francis Ezeonu of shortchanging them in the final list of temporary staff that would be posted for the elections.
One of the protesting officers, Michael Echetama said that the commission was not transparent in the engagement process.
According to him, the commission chose to engage only staff of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, overlooking staff of other federal institutions in the state.
He said, “We attended the training sessions two times and as we speak we don’t know our fate. We have information that INEC has engaged only staff of FUTO overlooking all of us from other federal institutions in Imo state.”
But the INEC public relation officer in the state, Emmanuella Opara said that there was no iota of truth in the allegation.
She said that those who would make the final list would be sent short message service by the commission before noon.
Opara said “They don’t need to crowd there. This is a duty for collation and returning officers which starts in the evening after the voting process. Those that will make the final list would be sent text messages and would be given appointment letter before noon.”