The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended Fred Ogboji, the electoral officer in charge of Jos North local government, in response to the disappearance of Federal House of Representatives ballot papers from 16 polling units in the area.
Isah Idakwo, the chief of electoral operations at the INEC Plateau state office, announced the suspension as part of the continuing investigation into the missing vote papers incident in Jos North.
Yesterday, numerous voting stations in the Plateau North rerun polls were disrupted due to a lack of critical electoral materials.
David Dabit, a leader of the Labour Party in the area, expressed frustration, stating, “Things like this have been happening, and nothing has been done. We have been trying to reach the Electoral officer for Jos North LGA, Fred Ogboji, but he won’t respond. Every time there is an election in Jos North LGA, there are problems in Tudun Wada/Kabong Ward and Naraguta B Ward. This cannot continue.”
Responding to the situation, INEC rescheduled the elections, currently underway in units within Tudun Wada/Kabong and Naraguta wards. Ogboji has been directed to hand over to Elekwa Onyemauche, the local government supervisor.
Oliver Agundu, the Plateau state INEC resident electoral officer, assured the public that the commission is committed to ensuring that every eligible voter can participate in the electoral process.
