ELECTION: Why we won’t remove Wike’s cousin as Edo REC – INEC replies PDP | Read Details
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has refused calls for it to remove Mr. Anugbum Onuoha as the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have been kicking against the choice of Onuoha, who is a cousin to the minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike as REC.
Recall that Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and Wike are not been in good terms.
The governor and the national leadership of the PDP have expressed fears that Onuoha would influence the election to favour the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The PDP chairman in Edo State, Anthony Aziegbemhin, had submitted a formal protest letter to INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, demanding Onuoha’s immediate redeployment.
The letter read in part;
“The ties between these two are too close to ignore as they share familiarities and are also close associates.
“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 during his tenure as Rivers governor.”
Responding, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said Onuoha will not be redeployed as the election will be conducted at the various polling units and not in the REC’s office.
The Commission urged the PDP to focus on the election process, rather than Onuoha.
Oyekanmi posited;
“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.
“In the same manner, polling unit results will be declared by the respective Presiding Officers after the voting, ballot sorting and counting processes, in the presence of accredited party agents and other stakeholders.”
