Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commis­sion (INEC), said the electoral body is sticking to its previous arrangement to pick collation and returning officers from the ivory tower.
He said that despite some few unpalatable experiences, the commission will continue to rely on academic staff of universities for the pool of per­sonnel to handle some critical roles during elections.
“For the various collation and declaration centres, 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”, stressed the INEC chairman at a meeting with vice chancellors of univer­sities in Abuja.
He warned, however, that persons who are partisan and are known card-carrying mem­bers of political parties must not be nominated by their insti­tutions to fill these important roles.
Those who have been con­victed of electoral offences are also excluded.
Prof. Yakubu said the com­mission will double check names of nominees to ensure the guidelines are followed, adding that those selected will swore 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 who are card carrying members or 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.
“The commission will care­fully scrutinise 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”.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commis­sion (INEC), said the electoral body is sticking to its previous arrangement to pick collation and returning officers from the ivory tower.
He said that despite some few unpalatable experiences, the commission will continue to rely on academic staff of universities for the pool of per­sonnel to handle some critical roles during elections.
“For the various collation and declaration centres, 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”, stressed the INEC chairman at a meeting with vice chancellors of univer­sities in Abuja.
He warned, however, that persons who are partisan and are known card-carrying mem­bers of political parties must not be nominated by their insti­tutions to fill these important roles.
Those who have been con­victed of electoral offences are also excluded.
Prof. Yakubu said the com­mission will double check names of nominees to ensure the guidelines are followed, adding that those selected will swore 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 who are card carrying members or 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.
“The commission will care­fully scrutinise 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”.