DISTURBED by the negative impression from certain quarters regarding officials of the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC), the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Delta State, Elder Abasi Ikoiwak, has pledged to sustain conduct of credible elections.

Addressing members of staff in Asaba, Ikoiwak threatened to sack corrupt workers. He bemoaned the pervert status the public had come to confer on the organisation owing to the unwholesome activities of some of its own, tasking them to change the perception.

As part of measures to ensure credible elections, he said that the new hall being built by the electoral umpire in the state capital would serve as a distribution venue of electoral materials instead of the local office of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which ordinarily should serve as storage for the items.

The REC said that upright officials would be adequately compensated, noting that some corrupt staff, who soiled the image of the commission, were recently suspended.

Ikoiwak conceded that some crooked officials probably connived with some politicians to facilitate the alleged stealing of 117 result sheets from the commission’s office in Asaba.