The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will swear in about 50,000 members of staff in Lagos for the presidential election on Saturday.
In an interview with The PUNCH, INEC Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Femi Akinbiyi, said the staff would be deployed across the state's 245 wards, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Section 28 of the Act reads, "All staff appointed by the Commission taking part in the conduct of an election shall affirm or swear before the High Court an Oath of Neutrality, as in the Second Schedule of this Act.
"All electoral officers, presiding officers, returning officers and all staff appointed by the commission, taking part in the conduct of an election shall affirm or swear an Oath of Loyalty and Neutrality, indicating that they would not accept bribe or gratification from any person, and shall perform their functions and duties impartially and in the interest of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, without fear or favour.
Akinbiyi said to avoid any inconvenience, some local governments had commenced the swearing-in of their officers on Tuesday, noting that the exercise would end on Wednesday.
He said, "We were unable to have a combined swearing-in for all the staff members because it would be difficult to get a venue that can take everyone. So, we decided that each local government should go about it individually."
Source: Punch