The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken the decision to suspend the Electoral Officer for Jos North Local Government Area, Fred Ogboji.
This action follows the rerun election on Saturday, during which there was an incident of missing ballot papers.
Isah Idakwo, the Head of Electoral Operations for INEC, confirmed the suspension in a letter addressed to Ogboji on Sunday.
The suspension is deemed a precautionary measure to facilitate a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the missing ballot papers.
As part of the suspension order, Ogboji has been instructed to hand over his duties to Elekwa Onyemauche, the current Local Government Supervisor. INEC emphasizes its commitment to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and assures the public that appropriate measures will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
The letter directed at Ogboji states, “You are directed to step aside from the 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 handover 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.”
It is noted that INEC rescheduled elections in 16 polling units in Jos North/Bassa federal constituency of Plateau due to the missing ballot papers, with the election now set for February 4. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oliver Agundu, disclosed that the missing ballot papers were discovered on the eve of the rerun, and the case had been referred to security agencies for investigation.
To prevent disenfranchisement, a stakeholders’ meeting was convened, resulting in the decision to remobilize and conduct the election in the affected polling units on February 4, 2024, to conclude the process in the federal constituency.