INEC finally speaks on removal of Igbo, South-South names from election duties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it did not remove the names of electorates from certain regions in Nigeria.

The commission, in a statement shared on its Twitter page on Wednesday, March 15, disclosed that INEC did not exclude the Igbo and South-South people from the list of ad hoc staff for the Saturday, March 18 governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Lagos State.

Reacting, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Olusegun Agbaje, in a statement made public on Wednesday evening by the head of the department of Voter Education and Publicity, Adenike Tadese, described the allegations as fake news which should be ignored.

The tweet sighted by Legit.ng on Thursday morning, March 16, reads thus:

"PRESS RELEASE

"The Commission’s Lagos Office Debunks Alleged Exclusion of Nigerians From Certain Regions as Ad-Hoc Staff For Governorship/State Houses of Assembly Elections."

Nigerians react

Nigerians took to the comment section of INEC's Twitter page and reacted to the development.

@Obilala_2000 tweeted: "And you think we will believe you?

@panachemuzik tweeted: "Believe @inecnigeria at your own peril."

@enyosam_ tweeted: "You think you still have legacy. Dey play."

@moore2life tweeted: "The same way INEC debunked the rumours of plans not to upload results directly from the PUs last November and ended up doing exactly what was debunked."

@hilkrest tweeted: "INEC we no trust una again for anything called election. Abeg make una share the remaining money make boys take am hold body."

PRESS RELEASE
The Commission’s Lagos Office Debunks Alleged Exclusion of Nigerians From Certain Regions as Ad-Hoc Staff For Governorship/State Houses of Assembly Elections pic.twitter.com/kQIlwZbpLG

— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) March 15, 2023