By EMMANUEL OLONIRUHA

Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has ordered that the staff members responsible for logistic delays during the Feb. 21 FCT Area Council elections be queried.

Amupitan disclosed this while speaking at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said though INEC achieved 100 per cent opening of pool by 10 a.m., the commission was dissatisfied with the report that only 45 per cent of polling units in the FCT opened by the mandatory 8:30 a.m.

The INEC chairman said that the commission had identified some staff members in Kuje Area Council and Kabusa Ward in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) who caused the logistics delays during the election.

Amupitan said that he had directed that the identified staff members should be queried.

“According to our Election Operations Dashboard, only 45 per cent of polling units in the FCT opened by 8:30 a.m.

“Although we achieved 100 per cent by 10:00 am, the initial delay is unacceptable.

“Let me repeat what I said at my meeting with staff, there will be consequences for any act capable of sabotaging the process and 45 per cent opening at 8:30 a.m. is not satisfactory.

“It fell short of our standards. It undermines public confidence and it will not be tolerated,’’ he said.

Amupitan also directed the immediate blacklisting of a transporter involved in logistics failure in Kwali Area Council.

He said that INEC was still reviewing its transport logistics model for effective performance.

Amupitan, however, said that on the whole, voting took place in all the polling units despite the initial delay and that the election was successfully concluded in all the polling units.

He commended the generally peaceful conduct of the election in all the polling units and in Kano and Rivers State constituencies, saying no violence was recorded during the exercise.

“We commend the security agencies for this feat. However, we must admit the ugly incident that occurred in Kuje Area Council, where the Kuje Central Collation Centre was invaded by thugs during collation and also at another collation centre in Kwali Area Council.

“The ugly incident was squarely addressed, and the results were finally collated without much ado.

“You must continue to strengthen our engagement with security agencies and stakeholders in your state. Elections must be peaceful, not by accident, but by deliberate planning and coordination,’’ he said.

The chairman also warned INEC staff members against absenteeism and dereliction of duty, particularly at local government offices.

He called on the RECs to take full responsibility for their respective states, warning that the commission would no longer tolerate absenteeism or dereliction of duty, especially at local government offices.

“As RECs, the buck stops with you. You must strengthen supervision, ensure early deployment of personnel and materials, and hold your electoral officers accountable. We cannot preach efficiency and practise excuses.

“Similarly, reports of absenteeism and dereliction of duty, especially at our local government offices, have reached the commission.

“Let me be clear: we will no longer tolerate indiscipline. Any staff who fails to report for duty, arrives late without justification or otherwise sabotages the process will face sanctions in accordance with our regulations,’’ he said.

Amupitan urged them to return to their states with renewed commitment, heightened vigilance and a clear message to their staff that “excellence is not optional; it is mandatory.”

He also urged the RECS to remain humble and resolute in correcting shortcomings in their various states, as the commission prepares for the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States and the 2027 general elections.

“Let us institutionalise post-election reviews in all states. Conduct honest internal audits. Examine logistics timelines. Review voter sensitisation and education strategies.

“Assess staff performance. Identify gaps in communication. Where we find weaknesses, let us address them now, not on the eve of the election,’’ he said.

To address the persistent voter apathy during elections, Amupitan also directed the RECs to intensify voter education and sensitisation in their respective states. (NAN)