The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa has urged INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to redeploy Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, due to alleged partisanship and affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party.
The group claims Dr. Onuoha is a card-carrying PDP member from Rivers State and was a Special Adviser to former Governor Nyesom Wike, raising concerns about his impartiality in the September 21 governorship election, according to TheSun.
The Coalition argues that Dr. Onuoha’s redeployment is necessary to restore confidence in the electoral process, ensure a credible election, and prevent a crisis in Edo State.
They emphasize that the integrity of an election relies on the electorate’s trust in the process, and Dr. Onuoha’s past records and affiliations compromise his ability to oversee a fair election.
According to Mayaki, “Dr. Anugbum Onuoha serves as the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo State. He hails from Rivers State and has previously served as the Special Adviser on Lands and Survey to the former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and was an active card-carrying member of the PDP. These affiliations and backgrounds have raised concerns about his possible biases and conflicts of interest in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
“Prof. Yakubu should forestall an impending electoral crisis in Edo State by heeding the insistent outcry, petitions and protests by the people of Edo State, political parties, and civil society organisations calling for the removal of Dr. Onuoha, who is seen as partisan and owing allegiance to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
“The people of Edo State cannot and will not accept any electoral process with Dr. Onuoha as REC, given his past records and political affiliations. His redeployment out of Edo State is the only way to restore confidence in the electoral process, guarantee a credible election and avert crisis in the state.”
The Coalition said the integrity of an election lies on the confidence of the electorate in the electoral process. “Dr. Onuoha has lost the rectitude required of a Resident Electoral Commissioner and should not be part of the conduct of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
“Therefore, the Coalition restates its demand that the INEC Chairman immediately redeploys Dr. Onuoha out of Edo State to restore the confidence of the people and the integrity of the electoral process.”
