By Ayodele Oni

Adhoc staff hired by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the conduct of Ondo state November 16 governorship election, are aggrieved due to non payment of their allowances and have threatened to stage a protest.

The non payment is however not deliberate on the part of the commission which has blamed the delay on banking errors.

Over 17,000 ad hoc staff, who undergone the technical training before the governorship election, were deployed by the electoral body for the recently concluded exercise.

The aggrieved ad hoc staff, who spoke on Sunday in Akure, the state capital, lamented that they are yet to receive their allowance almost three weeks after the governorship election.

Some of them alleged that INEC had earlier promised to pay them on the day of the exercise, disclosing that it was “a promise yet to be fulfilled.”

They explained that the electoral body had promised to pay them less than N20,000 for the work done on the election day.

One of the ad hoc staff, who served as a Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO), explained that they never expected the electoral body would owe them till present.

“They are yet to pay us our allowance. As I speak with you now. INEC is not speaking with us. They are not giving us listening ears at all. Many of us are affected, and they are yet to pay. It is sad that INEC is yet to fulfil its promise of paying us.

“Those attending to us at the commission’s office are refusing to listen to our plight. We are demanding the payment of our allowance, or we storm the INEC office massively starting from this week.”

Another ad hoc staff, who accused the commission of “using and dumping” them after the election, however, pleaded with the state Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and other stakeholders to prevail on INEC in the state to pay them their allowance.

He also revealed that other ad hoc staff who are aggrieved by the non-payment of their allowances are planning to stage a peaceful protest to the INEC office.

“I’m also ready to join the protest if we don’t receive the money before Tuesday because it’s getting late. It’s over two weeks that the election was conducted. They use and dump us. I feel INEC had no reason not to pay us.”

When contacted, Dr Temitope Akanmu, the spokesman for INEC in Ondo state, however, denied the allegation of the ad hoc staff.

Akanmu stated that the commission had commenced payment of allowance to the ad hoc staff that took part in the governorship election.

He noted that those who are experiencing delayed payment was as a result of the problem associated with their financial institution.

“We have paid the ad hoc staff who worked during the election. But we understand that there are some who have issues with their banks, and we are working with them to resolve whatever problem they might be experiencing.

“So, what we have is just pocket of challenges that is common with banking errors. The few ones who are yet to receive will get them soon I can assure them.

“Even the REC, Oluwatoyin Babalola, is mostly concerned about the problem, which has to do with banking errors. She has instructed that it should be fixed.”

By Akinwale Kasali

A youth group, the Yoruba Youth Council, YYC, has condemned the planned protest against the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmod Yakubu.

The Group described the plan as an unnecessary diversion and a misguided move.

This protest, being organized by the #ReformINEC and #SackYakubu Movement is scheduled to take place in Abuja. But the Yoruba Youth Group has slammed its organizers.

The YYC, in a statement signed by its National President, Eric Oluwole, said the protest is orchestrated by “disgruntled individuals seeking to destabilize our nation for selfish interests.”

Oluwole said: “The Yoruba Youth Council strongly condemns the planned protest against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

“This protest, organized by a group identified as the #ReformINEC and #SackYakubu Movement, is a misguided and unnecessary diversion from the nation’s path toward peace and progress. Their claims of demanding electoral reform and calling for Prof Yakubu’s resignation are insincere, unfounded, and appear to be orchestrated by disgruntled individuals seeking to destabilize our nation for selfish interests.

“It is regrettable that these agitators aim to exploit perceived public dissatisfaction to undermine the significant strides made in our electoral system under Prof Yakubu’s leadership. We firmly believe that these actions are an attempt to tarnish the image of a hardworking and patriotic Nigerian who has introduced critical reforms to enhance electoral credibility and transparency.

“Let it be known that the Yoruba Youth Council stands against this ill-advised and ill-motivated protest. It is evident that this movement seeks to discredit the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has been unwavering in his efforts to transform Nigeria into an economic powerhouse for the benefit of all citizens.

“We call on security agencies across the country to remain vigilant and thwart any attempts to disrupt national peace. Such baseless and provocative actions are a threat to the stability of our nation and must not be tolerated.

“The Yoruba Youth Council proudly supports Prof Mahmood Yakubu and his commendable efforts in reforming Nigeria’s electoral system. His reforms have garnered global recognition, and it is crucial that we collectively reject attempts to derail these advancements through spurious and divisive protests.

“We urge Nigerians to remain vigilant against unpatriotic elements who seek to exploit our democracy for personal gains. Together, we must protect our nation’s peace, stability, and progress.”