The attention of the Management of the University of Calabar has been drawn to the publication by one Modlin Odu tagged \”should staff of the University of Calabar continue as INEC officials in the 2023 election?\”. Without any equivocation, the writer cast aspersion on the University, its staff, and the Vice-Chancellor of the Institution.
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Ordinarily, the write-up should have been ignored, but the falsehood peddled therein may be misconstrued by unsuspecting members of the public as true hence, it is incumbent on us to set the record straight.
First, Let Modlin know that by virtue of the Electoral Act and other relevant guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC the collation officers collates what is brought from the field, the same as returning officers.
For the information of Modlin, by the extant provisions of rules of university staff engagement, staff are apolitical. They do not engage in partisan politics. They are neither subject to the supervision nor authority of the Vice-Chancellor when engaged in external functions like an election. The said Vice-Chancellor who is alleged to be an APC member was in Anambra and returned an APGA Governor against the APC. Does it mean Modlin was hypnotized or merely chasing the cloud?
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It is glaring that the writer is a member of the opposition People Democratic Party, PDP, and our investigation reveals that she is a Media Aide to distinguished Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, the PDP Governorship candidate who is merely entertaining the fear of possible defeat in the 11th March 2023 election.
It is not true that \”…voters have expressed their lack of confidence in the ability of UNICAL staff deployed on electoral duties to stay neutral, especially in Boki…\”. The above claim only exists in the imagination of the writer and does not reflect the true will of the people.
However, we want to state categorically that any staff of the University of Calabar found wanting in the course of duty should be brought book after due process as the University frowns at any form of malpractice, and remains committed to advocating for free, fair and credible election in Nigeria.
We however call on someone to tell Modlin Odu to learn to get her information right and stop peddling falsehood.
Management.
