The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued 202 queries to its staff members accused of election malpractices.
The Chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu on Thursday in Abuja made this known while briefing Civil Society Organisations under the umbrella of Situation Room on INEC’s preparations for 2019 elections.
According to him, the commission will not tolerate violation of the Electoral Act no matter who is involved.
He said; “So far, we have issued 202 queries to the staff mentioned in the interim EFCC report covering election in 16 states but we have finished work on 14 of the 16 states; whatever action we need to take will be taken.
“We will ensure that there is no more violation of the electoral act and we will spare no one who is perpetuating it.”
“Following the events in Rivers, the commission set up its own administrative inquiry which indicted a number of staff members”.
“Whoever is charged to court for that kind of offence is interdicted, meaning the staff would be suspended and placed on half salary until proven otherwise and that is what we have done.”
The INEC boss said the staff remained innocent under INEC’s law until proven guilty, adding that the commission had plans in motion for the 2019 elections, with a draft likely to be presented to major stakeholders in a few weeks’ time.
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