Politicians lobbied REC removal after Kwara by-elections

Kwara state Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Garba Madami, has revealed some politicians in the state lobbied for his transfer after last year’s by-election in November.

Speaking at a roundtable on a peaceful 2019 polls, he said, “After the November 2018 National Assembly by-election in Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Isin/Irepodun Federal constituency, politicians started to lobby for my transfer to another state because of my sincerity and standing by what I have believe is right. But INEC headquarters called and said I am not going anywhere.

“Do you know why? Because Kwara is not just the eye of Nigeria in politics, it is the eye of the international community; if we get it right in Kwara, INEC will get it right across the country.

“As far as INEC Kwara is concerned we are going to conduct free, fair and credible elections that everybody will be proud of. That is why I redeployed some of my staff that I have overstayed in one location.

“As a result of that, I received calls from highly placed individuals including some emirs and kabiyesis for taking that action. But I told them I am here in the state to conduct free and fair elections. ‘If any of your wards does not go for that posting, collect his or her resignation letter and I will forward it to Abuja,” Madamin said.

The event was organized by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS), University of Ilorin. It is entitled “a recipe for sustainable peace, security and development.”