Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, who won last Saturday’s Abia North Senatorial election re-run, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to stop using university teachers as adhoc collation and returning officers during elections, saying they have corrupted the system.
According to Ohuabunwa, some of the lecturers now see the job as opportunity to enrich themselves by working for the highest bidder.
He also called on INEC to probe the activities of the Local Government collation officers and the returning officers in the Abia North re-run election, saying that their conduct was not straight forward.
Speaking to journalists in Umuahia, Tuesday evening, Ohuabunwa whose election was nullified by the Court of Appeal which necessitated the re-run, advised INEC to use their staff in category of directors and deputy directors, or alternatively give the lecturers proper and adequate training if they must be used.
Ohuabunwa who dedicated his victory to God and the people of Abia North, regretted that former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega’s noble idea of using university teachers, believed to be credible, to conduct elections, has been grossly abused by the lecturers, who he alleged now price the type of cars to buy before going for INEC adhoc work.
He said: “In my opinion, I will ask INEC not to allow lecturers to serve as adhoc staff in the elections because they are derailing the commission’s effort.”