Ahead of the Saturday governorship and assembly elections in Lagos State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that it did not strike Igbo and South South names from the list of ad hoc personnel.

According to speculations spreading on social media, the electoral umpire in Lagos allegedly relieved all Igbo and South-South employees of crucial election-related duties for the March 18 elections.

Reacting, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, described the allegations as fake news which should be ignored.

Agbaje said: “INEC, Lagos State, read with great surprise and concern on the social media in respect of the removal of all Igbos and South-South staff in Lagos State from participating as ad hoc staff in the state during the forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly elections on March 18.

“The forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly will only require the services of 427 Collation Officers because only two elections are involved.

“It is pertinent to state unequivocally that members of staff that are Igbos were all returned to work as Collation Officers in the forthcoming elections while SPOs (Supervisory Presiding Officers) maintained their positions.”

Conversations With Tinubu?

Agbaje said that he did not at any point in time engage in any phone conversation with the “Obidients, Sanwo-Olu, and Tinubu”

According to the INEC REC, in fact, he does not have their telephone numbers.

Agbaje added: “Whoever that has information concerning the day and time of the said telephone conversation should not hesitate to make it public.”

He implored the populace to avoid false information and deception and let INEC in Lagos concentrate on the upcoming elections in order to get the desired results.