The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) demand to redeploy Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Anugbum Onuoha, citing no compelling reasons for his removal.
The controversy surrounding Onuoha stems from his alleged closeness to Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who has a strained relationship with Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki. The PDP fears Onuoha’s ties to Wike could compromise the upcoming governorship election.
In a formal protest letter to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, Edo PDP Chairman Anthony Aziegbemhin highlighted Onuoha’s familial and professional connections to Wike. “The ties between these two are too close to ignore… The said Edo REC is a cousin to the Minister of the FCT, Mr. Wike. He also served as a former Commissioner and Special Adviser for Lands, Survey, and Housing to Mr Wike.”
However, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, dismissed the PDP’s concerns. “The REC for Edo State will not be redeployed. The governorship election will be conducted on September 21, 2024, in 4,519 polling units, not in the REC’s office.”
Oyekanmi emphasized the electoral process’s integrity, stating, “Polling unit results will be declared by the respective Presiding Officers after voting, ballot sorting, and counting processes, in the presence of accredited party agents and other stakeholders.”
The decision has sparked tensions ahead of the Edo governorship election, with the PDP and Governor Obaseki expressing concerns about potential electoral bias.
