GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION: FACE LEGAL ACTION, INEC THREATENS TO PENALIZE AD HOC STAFF

The Cross River office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has threatened to discipline collation and returning officers who engaged in dishonest behavior during the governor and house of state assembly elections.

Prof. Gabriel Yomere, INEC's resident electoral commissioner for Cross River, made the threats on Friday in Calabar during training for INEC's ad-hoc staff members hired for the state's elections on Saturday.

Yomere asked the officers to carry out their duty impartially and abstain from all criminal activity.

He said, "For the avoidance of doubt, section 120 of the 2022 Electoral Act states that officers on election duty who without lawful excuse commit or omit to act in breach of official duty for which they've sworn an oath of neutrality will be prosecuted and if convicted shall be imprisoned.

"The term of imprisonment ranges from 3 years for collation officers and twelve months for presiding officers and other polling level staff, including fine where applicable."