The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will not redeploy its Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha, who is a cousin of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had demanded that Onuoha who has been a subject of controversy over his relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike. be redeployed ahead of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated this and told the PDP to focus on the process of the election rather than Onuoha.
Oyekanmi said “The REC for Edo State will not be redeployed. The governorship election will be conducted on 21st September 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.
“The PO will also take a picture of the PU result in each polling unit with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, and upload the same to the INEC Result Viewing portal. This process is not the same as electronic voting or electronic transmission and collation of results.
“The IReV is for transparency purposes. The Nigerian constitution does not yet recognise electronic voting. Copies of the PU results will be given to accredited party agents”, he said.
Governor Godwin Obaseki and Wike are at logger heads after the latter supported his second term bid following his defection to the PDP.
Also, Obaseki and the national leadership of the PDP alleged that Onuoha would influence the election to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) where Wike is now a minister.
Edo State PDP chairman, Anthony Aziegbemhin, on Thursday, protested in a letter to the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, demanding Onuoha’s ‘immediate redeployment’.
“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,” the letter added.
Umoru Faruk Salifu
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