The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Monday, said the commission had recorded a shortfall of 6,154 ad hoc staff for the conduct of the November 11 governorship election in Imo State.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated this at a two-day capacity workshop for members of the INEC Press Corps in Akwanga, Nasarawa state.
The workshop with the theme “Ethical, Safety Practices and Critical Issues Relating to the Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa Governorship Elections” is sponsored by Development Alternatives Incorporated.
Yakubu, represented by the National Commissioner, and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said the shortfall was observed at the close of online applications for the recruitment of ad hoc staff for the Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi governorship elections.
The INEC Chairman who did not state the reason for the shortfall, however, said that staff would be sourced from the neighbouring states.
“Ad hoc staff portal for the November 2023 off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states was opened on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 8 a.m. and closed on Monday, October 2, 2023, at midnight.
“The summary of successful applicants shows that Bayelsa and Kogi have a full complement of their requirement for all categories of ad hoc staff, while Imo has a shortfall of 6,154.
“The shortfall will be sourced from the neighbouring state,” Yakubu said.