Ahead of the highly anticipated governorship election in Edo State, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha, has called on political parties to present any evidence that challenges his competence in overseeing the electoral process.
This comes as some stakeholders have raised concerns about potential bias due to Onuoha’s family ties with Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The election, scheduled for Saturday, has drawn attention to Onuoha’s role, especially after Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, called for his redeployment.
Aziegbemi cited Onuoha’s relationship with Wike as a reason for lacking confidence in the REC’s ability to conduct a free and fair election.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Onuoha acknowledged his familial connection to Wike, but firmly dismissed allegations of potential bias.
He reiterated his commitment to impartiality and competence, urging political parties and stakeholders to disregard the unfounded claims of favoritism.
“Yes, I am related to Nyesom Wike, but my relationship with him does not affect my ability to conduct a transparent and credible election,” Onuoha stated.
He challenged any political party with evidence against his integrity to present it, stressing that his professional background and experience equip him to handle the upcoming election effectively.
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Onuoha’s defense comes amidst rising political tension in Edo State, as major candidates from the PDP, All Progressives Congress (APC), and Labour Party (LP) vie for the governorship seat.
With just a day left before voters head to the polls, all eyes are on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its officials to ensure a fair and peaceful election process.
“It is a fact that I am a cousin to the minister. Before my appointment, I was invited by the Senate. It screened me, and I was confirmed. I was sworn in by Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, and posted to Edo.
‘Since last year, nobody complained that I am a cousin to the minister. Of course, I am a cousin to the minister. What we should be talking about at this time is the capacity to conduct the election.
“From my background, I am an Associate Professor of Law. People should now ask if I have done thing job before. Yes, I was an electoral commissioner in Rivers State. Nobody has complained. I am coming from the university. I am not a politician. The mere fact that I am a cousin to Wike does not preclude me from being appointed.
“I’m I not a Nigerian? Nigerians should have gone beyond this level.”
Onuoha then urged any of the political parties to come forward with evidence they had against him that could have warranted their attacks.
“I challenge all the political parties in Edo State to tell me what I have done wrong so far.
“I am ready for the Edo election, and I will not favour any political party. At the end of the day, the people of Edo will have an election that is free from pity,” he said.
On preparations for the Saturday gubernatorial elections, Onuoha said all is set, and sensitive materials had been deployed to their respective local government areas.
“The campaign for political parties ended yesterday at midnight. We have only one activity left, and that is the election for tomorrow. The INEC is prepared for this election. Yesterday, we distributed sensitive materials. And before we did that; we invited all the stakeholders, and 18 political parties and their agents were on ground to inspect the sensitive materials before the deployment to their respective local governments.
“We asked if they had any reservations, and they said they were satisfied with everything they saw,” he told Channels Television on Friday.
It would be recalled that during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today recently, Wike, said he would not support Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The FCT Minister also described the governor as an ingrate.
He also pledged not to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who is being backed by the outgoing Edo State Governor.
“I told them when they came to me that I am not going to support you, neither am I going to support anybody. The one I supported, it never helped anything. Rather I was insulted.
“I supported him the last time, what happened? I became a stupid man,” Wike said.
When asked if he would support the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, Wike said he is not a member of the party.
Responding to his talks, Ighodalo said the choice of who succeeds Obaseki is not for Wike or any other person to make, but for the people of the state.
The political temperature in the state has been turbocharged in the last year. Of note, 95 cases of violence including 35 incidents of electoral violence have been recorded since January this year in the state.
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