Following irregularities and electoral misdemeanour that characterised the Plateau North Senatorial District election in Plateau State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended Fred Ogboji, the electoral officer in charge of Jos North local government.
Recall that many electorates from different polling units on Saturday were disenfranchised either due to a shortage of electoral materials or because the election did not hold at all.
Nigerian Tribune findings revealed that the re-run election was not held in 25 wards across the senatorial district, while there was general voting apathy, probably due to the exclusion of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the ballot.
In a statement signed by Isah Idakwo, head of electoral operations at the INEC Plateau state office, it was posited that the suspension was part of an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of ballot papers from 16 polling units in Jos North.
The statement reads, “You are directed to step aside from office to enable the Commission to carry out a proper investigation into the circumstances that led to the missing Federal House of Representatives ballot papers in 16 polling units in your local government.
“You are further directed to hand over to Barr. Elekwa Onyemauche, the Local Government Supervisor, and the two RA Supervisors of Tudun Wada, Kapong, and Naraguta B (E.O. Shendam and E.O. Kanke Local Government Areas, respectively), to coordinate and complete the remaining process.”