Osun Govt Raises Alarm Over Alleged Changes to INEC Ad-Hoc Staff List
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Enyinnaya Sandra Amaka
OSOGBO, OSUN STATE — The Osun State Government has raised concerns over alleged last-minute changes to the list of presiding officers and other ad-hoc personnel assigned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The state government, in a statement issued on Friday, alleged that some INEC officials in Osogbo had replaced names contained in the previously approved list of polling unit officers and other electoral personnel.
According to the government, the alleged changes became apparent on Friday, less than 24 hours before voters are expected to cast their ballots across the state.
It identified Egbedore, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West Local Government Areas as among the areas reportedly most affected by the alleged changes.
The government claimed that names of presiding officers and assistant presiding officers who had previously undergone INEC training and accreditation were removed from the list without prior notice.
It further alleged that some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other trained ad-hoc personnel were dropped and replaced with individuals who, according to the administration, had not participated in the required electoral training.
The state government said it was particularly concerned by what it described as the appearance of “strange names” on the list of personnel expected to work at polling units during the election.
It alleged that some of the newly listed individuals had not attended INEC training, raising questions about their preparedness to perform electoral duties.
The government described the development as a serious concern that could affect the credibility of the electoral process if not urgently addressed.
It called on INEC to investigate the alleged changes and verify the identities and qualifications of all personnel assigned to polling units before the commencement of voting.
The administration also urged the electoral commission to ensure that only duly trained, accredited and previously shortlisted personnel are deployed for the election.
The government described the alleged replacement of trained personnel as “an assault on the integrity of INEC to conduct a free and fair election tomorrow.”
The allegation comes as political parties, candidates, election observers and voters make final preparations for the Osun governorship election, with attention focused on the readiness of electoral officials, sensitive materials, security arrangements and the credibility of the voting process.
The development could heighten concerns among stakeholders, particularly in areas where polling officials may have been changed shortly before election day.
However, the allegations by the Osun State Government would require confirmation from INEC, the body constitutionally responsible for the recruitment, training and deployment of electoral officials.
As of the time of filing this report, the state government’s statement had called for immediate intervention by the electoral commission to clarify the situation and prevent any disruption to Saturday’s voting process.
The government said prompt action by INEC would help protect public confidence in the election and ensure that voters are served by properly trained and accredited electoral personnel.
Osun State is preparing for its governorship election, with voting scheduled to take place across the state. Osogbo, the state capital, is the administrative and political centre of the election preparations, while the 30 local government areas remain key to the conduct and outcome of the poll. In the final hours before election day, the deployment of presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and other ad-hoc staff is a critical component of the electoral process.
