By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that any lecturer who is a member of any political party will be delisted if nominated to serve as Returning and State Collation Officers in the forthcoming polls.
The INEC also warned against the inclusion of lecturers who have been convicted of electoral malpractice.
Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the INEC stated this when he met with Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities in Abuja.
Yakubu said that the INEC would only work with non-partisan officials during the forthcoming elections to allow for a free and fair exercise.
Yakubu disclosed that the commission would be engaging 23,258 lecturers as returning and collating officers.
“We need the support of our universities to source the requisite number of the suitable academic staff of impeccable integrity who must also understand that this is a call to national service.
“As in previous elections, we have requested each University for a specified number and category of academic staff as contained in my letter to the vice-chancellors.
“I must warn that staff who are card-carrying members or have participated in partisan politics should not be nominated.
“Similarly, those who may not be involved in partisan politics but are known to have obvious political leanings should not be nominated.
“Furthermore, those who have been convicted of electoral malpractice must be excluded,” he said.
On its part, the National Universities Commission (NUC) restated the commitment that its members would deliver adequately on the mandate given to them by the INEC.
The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, commended the INEC for sustaining its relationship with the commission.
Rasheed, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki pledged the NUC’s commitment to free and fair elections.
