Oshiomhole’s men to INEC: Don’t use ad hoc staff, NYSC members for governorship poll

INEC Chairman Prof.Jega

AHEAD of the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, the Adams Oshiomhole 2012 Re-election Finance Committee has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to forget the use of ad hoc staff and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the election. 

The committee was reacting to a statement by INEC that it may not use NYSC members if there is a threat to the conduct of the election. 

The chairman of the committee, Senator Domino Obende, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while speaking on preparations for Governor Oshiomhole’s fund raising dinner scheduled for Wednesday this week. 

Dignitaries expected at the occasion include President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; business mogul, Abdulsamad Ishaku Rabiu and a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who is billed to be the Chairman of the occasion. 

Domingo said since the Edo governorship election slated for July 14 is the only one taking place in the country, there should be no excuse for failure from INEC. 

He said: “If INEC is prudent enough with their management and technical team, I do not think they need to hire NYSC members or any ad hoc staff. The INEC team is more than enough to conduct this election. 

“What is more, you talk about violence; it is easier said than done. In last year’s election, Edo was supposedly going to be the hottest in the nation, but not one gun was fired and no single incident was reported anywhere. 

Speaking on the fund raising dinner, Obende said a bank account has been opened for Oshiomhole’s re-election scheduled for three centres-Abuja, Lagos and Benin, adding that INEC has been notified of it in line with global trends.