The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun investigation of its staff caught with written results before accreditation in the off-cycle election held in Kogi State yesterday.
The malfeasance was recorded on video and shared online.
In the video, an INEC staff was seen showing the contents of a bag which revealed a number of written results.
INEC confirmed the incident saying an investigation had begun.
“Our attention has been drawn to a report that filled result sheets were discovered in some polling units in Kogi State.
“The Commission views this situation seriously. Our senior officials deployed to the State are currently investigating the incident(s). The Commission will communicate its decision earnestly,” it said.
The commission also halted elections in nine wards of the state following the reported conduct of its staff.
It said it received complaints from five local government areas of the state – Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene.
The commission described the situation as “more worrisome” Ogori/Magongo and therefore announced the suspension of voting in Eni, Okibo, Okesi, Ileteju, Aiyeromi, Ugugu, Obinoyin, Obatgben, and Oturu wards.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Dino Melaye who also spoke on the matter earlier in a short video on the social media called on the electorate to oppose any wrongdoing undermining their aspirations as Kogi people.
“The result sheets have been filled and tampered with already, and people have refused to accredit, people have refused to vote, and they are insisting that the plain result sheets must be returned to agents following the electoral law,” Melaye said.
Speaking on the development, the national commissioner and member information and voter education committee, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said: “This is entirely unacceptable. Any result not emanating from the Commission’s process in the Polling Units will not be accepted.
“We have a record of all officials deployed at various levels as supervisors, monitors, technical staff or polling unit officials and all election materials issued to them. Appropriate sanctions will be applied where necessary.”
He announced that incidents in the other local councils were being thoroughly investigated, adding that the outcome, including the way forward, would be announced in the next 24 hours.
