The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied claims that it removed the names of Igbo and South-South ad hoc staff from the list of workers for the Lagos State governorship and state assembly elections on 18 March. INEC's Lagos State resident electoral commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, said allegations that he had removed several staff of South-East and South-South origin were false and should be ignored.
Agbaje stated that all staff who were Igbos would return to work as collation officers for the elections, while supervisory presiding officers would maintain their positions. He added that the commission would continue to uphold principles of fairness and transparency.
Allegations that INEC had removed Igbo and South-South workers from sensitive election duties for the forthcoming elections on social media caused widespread concern. INEC clarified that the ad hoc staff required for the governorship and state assembly polls would be 427 collation officers, as only two elections are involved.
During the presidential and national assembly elections on 25 February, 738 ad hoc staff were engaged in Lagos state, as three elections were held. INEC urged the public to shun fake news, misinformation and disinformation and allow INEC in Lagos to focus on the forthcoming elections.
Agbaje also stated that he had not engaged in any telephone conversation with "Obidients, Sanwo-Olu and Tinubu," adding that he did not have their telephone numbers. He called on anyone with information about such a conversation to make it public.
The statement emphasised the need for INEC to uphold the fundamental principles of equity, transparency, and accountability to deepen electoral democracy as an unbiased election management body.