Adhoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have received special commendation from Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for standing by the law in spite of intimidation during Saturday’s Gwaram federal constituency bye-election in Jigawa state.
The commendation followed report that a local government chairman allegedly tried to vote illegally in the bye-election, but was stopped by the INEC staff despite intimidation from supporters of the LG boss.
It was gathered that the chairman, accompanied by a retinue of his supporters arrived at Sara Kofar Fada Polling Unit 001 without his PVC and demanded to be allowed to vote without accreditation.
He insisted that he forgot his PVC at home but should be allowed to vote since his name was on the register.
The adhoc staff refused, and insisted that doing so would be a violation of the Electoral act which requires every eligible voter to present his/her PVC for accreditation. Consequently, he was turned away. He returned later with his PVC and was properly accredited and allowed to vote.
The chairman of INEC, Prof Yakubu, personally called the a hoc staff involved and commended them for adhering to the law and the commission’s policy of “no PVC, no voting”.
He said a letter of commendation for the exemplary conduct of the ad hoc staff involved will be sent to the state coordinator of NYSC in Jigawa state.
The INEC chairman also warned all registered voters, irrespective of status, to obey the law.
