close
Sunday, February 26, 2023

Port Harcourt thugs attacked us, INEC starved us, lament ad hoc staff

We have been here for the past three days, no food, no water. They didn’t give us anything,” she said. “We have serious issues with payment.

• February 26, 2023

At least five ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stationed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, have complained about poor treatment by the commission, including the non-payment of required allowances and inadequate welfare planning for their security and personal well-being during the ongoing presidential and parliamentary elections.

Speaking to Peoples Gazette at the Obio/Akpor local government collation center, a presiding officer who chose not to disclose his name said he had not received his feeding allowances from Friday up until this morning. He accused his Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) of cornering the funds for himself and his colleagues. 

“Our own feeding money that they were supposed to give us, since on Friday nothing, Saturday nothing. Till this Sunday morning, our SPO said she is not owing us anything,” he said. 

He added that INEC authorities allowed them to transport sensitive election materials, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result sheets without any form of protection, leaving them vulnerable to thugs who stopped and harassed them. 

His statement aligned with that of another officer who simply identified herself as Grace. 

“We have been here for the past three days, no food, no water. They didn’t give us anything,” she said. “We have serious issues with payment.” 

“We did not have money for transport, we have been spending our own money,” she added. 

Another presiding officer, Henrietta, said she and her colleagues were held hostage for more than three hours by “area boys” who assaulted several of them repeatedly. 

“The bus took us to Rumeme community primary school and we were held hostage in that place for more than three hours. We tried calling our SPO, INEC officials, none of them answered us,” she said. “In fact, they molested so many of us yesterday evening,” she added. 

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Ballot box

States

INEC to conduct fresh elections in seven Abia council areas on Monday

According to him, the reported skirmishes in the affected polling units during Saturday’s election necessitated the fresh polls.

Mahmood Yakub

NationWide

IReV server has capacity for state, not nationwide election: INEC

We take full responsibility for the problems and regret the distress that they have caused the candidates, political parties and the electorate.

Ballot box

States

Adefarati, ex-Ondo governor’s son, wins Rep election

Ibukun Emmanuel, the INEC’s Returning Officer for the National Assembly election in Ondo state, announced Mr Adefarati as the winner of the weekend election.

Prince Akeem Adeyemi

States

Alaafin’s son, Akeem, retains Oyo federal constituency seat for third time

Mr Adeyemi scored 34,822 to defeat other candidates who participated in the election.

Ballot box

States

Warri South: INEC reconducts polls in seven wards

There were complaints by some ad hoc staff that some of the result sheets were missing.

Ajibola Bashiru

States

Senate spokesperson, Bashiru, loses Osun central senatorial seat to PDP

Mr Bashiru lost to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fadeyi Olubiyi, in Saturday’s election.