Election: avoid partisan role, NEMA warns INEC Ad-Hoc staff

THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised ad-hoc staff recruited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain a high level of professionalism during the Feb.16 poll.

Mr Evans Ugoh, head of Imo/Abia Operations of the agency gave the warning in Owerri on Monday, while addressing corps members on the dangers of election violence during and after the general elections.

Ugoh noted that the ad-hoc staff were the most vulnerable group and warned them against the partisan role that could escalate violence.

He said being partisan, accepting any form of inducement from politicians could trigger off violence while many of the staff might become victims.

“NEMA is more interested in the safety of Nigerians during the poll and we are doing this to issue early warning measures to avert imminent crises.

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“Don’t accept a bribe, avoid unnecessary delay while the poll is going on and always create a friendly environment,” he said.

Ugoh disclosed that some of the activities that could trigger violence during election include result falsification, vote buying, illegal usage of ballot boxes and improper communication.

The NEMA boss maintained that ad-hoc staff, as veritable tools for the success of the election, must remain neutral until the end of the election to prevent a political crisis.

“The essence of this seminar is to ensure we avoid disaster occurrences that might have an impact on the economy.

” The funds that would have been channelled to development projects would as a result of election violence be a channel to disaster response and rehabilitation”, he said.