Concerned Nigerians, a civil society organisation, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Friday to stop members of the All Progressives Congress, PDP, Labour Party, LP, and other political parties from hacking into the ad hoc staff portal that will soon be launched in advance of the general elections of 2023.
Concerns were expressed about alleged efforts by some political parties to apply for ad hoc positions in an effort to tamper with the electoral process in a statement signed by the Convener, CN, Comrade Deji Adeyanju.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it would soon create a webpage for the recruitment of ad-hoc workers, according to the statement.
“While this is a noble and laudable initiative by the commission, we are concerned that people with vested interests may infiltrate the system and compromise the electoral process.
“We are alarmed that the process has been compromised by some unscrupulous INEC officials and individuals with ulterior motives who mean no good for this nation.
“We have observed with great concern, how supporters of some candidates are mobilizing their members to massively apply for the ad-hoc job as a means to checkmate the process against manipulation.
“We condemn in its entirety, the lack of due diligence on the part of the Commission in knowing that opening up the portal to all is an invitation to partisan individuals to apply for the ad-hoc job.
“If partisan people are allowed to infiltrate the system, this may not only threaten our democracy but also undermine the integrity of the commission and our election process.
However, the group tasked INEC with doing the needful, “We hereby remind INEC officials that they have a constitutional responsibility to protect our fragile democracy by ensuring that the upcoming general elections are free, fair and credible.
“As a matter of urgency, the Commission should put measures in place to make sure that no political party or candidate takes advantage of any loophole in the Commission to recruit partisans and party loyalists into the ad-hoc staff program.
“We also admonish those individuals who may have a hand in such illegal acts to desist from such before the long arm of the law catches up with them.
“Conclusively, we urge INEC to put measures in place that will prevent members of APC, PDP, LP, NNPP, AAC or other political parties and their supporters or sympathizers from becoming ad-hoc staff for the 2023 general elections.”