The portal would be opened on September 14 by 8am and is slated to close on November 30, by 8am.
The Concerned Nigerians group has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Action Congress (AAC), the Labour Party and other political parties from serving as ad hoc staff for the upcoming general elections.
INEC had recently announced the commencement of recruitment for ad hoc staff.
It revealed that the portal would be opened on September 14 by 8am and is slated to close on November 30, by 8am.
Deji Adeyanju, Convener of Concerned Nigerians group in a statement on Friday said it was concerned that people with vested interests might infiltrate the system and compromise the electoral process.
The statement read, “Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will soon launch a portal for the recruitment of ad-hoc staff. While this is a noble and laudable initiative by the commission, we are concerned that people with vested interests may infiltrate the system and compromise the electoral process.
“We are alarmed that the process has been compromised by some unscrupulous INEC officials and individuals with ulterior motives who mean no good for this nation.
“We have observed with great concern; how supporters of some candidates are mobilising their members to massively apply for the ad hoc job as a means to checkmate the process against manipulation.
“We condemn in its entirety, the lack of due diligence on the part of the commission in knowing that opening up the portal to all is an invitation to partisan individuals to apply for the ad hoc job. If partisan people are allowed to infiltrate the system, this may not only threaten our democracy but also undermine the integrity of the commission and our election process.
“We hereby remind INEC officials that they have a constitutional responsibility to protect our fragile democracy by ensuring that the upcoming general elections are free, fair and credible. As a matter of urgency, the commission should put measures in place to make sure that no political party or candidate takes advantage of any loophole in the commission to recruit partisans and party loyalists into the ad hoc staff programme.
“We also admonish those individuals who may have a hand in such illegal acts to desist from such before the long arm of the law catches up with them. Conclusively, we urge INEC to put measures in place that will prevent members of APC, PDP, LP, NNPP, AAC or other political parties and their supporters or sympathizers from becoming ad hoc workers for the 2023 general elections.”