The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa has called for the immediate transfer of Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo State, citing concerns over his political ties with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The coalition expressed fears that Dr. Onuoha’s continued presence in Edo State threatens the credibility of the upcoming governorship elections.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the coalition, led by its Country Director, Mr. John Mayaki, highlighted statements made by Wike during a recent interview on Channels Television. Wike admitted that Dr. Onuoha is his first cousin and has been serving as REC in Edo for over a year. “He was posted to Edo more than one year ago… For accusing my first cousin, they have made a mistake… you are meeting a rock (Onuoha),” Wike said, sparking concerns about Dr. Onuoha’s impartiality.
The coalition alleges that Dr. Onuoha has participated in political rallies alongside Wike, further compromising his neutrality. “This blatant conflict of interest threatens to undermine the foundation of our democracy and imperil the trust of the people in the electoral process,” the coalition stated, urging INEC to transfer Dr. Onuoha to another role and appoint a neutral individual to oversee elections in Edo State.
The group warned that failure to address the issue could result in a loss of public trust in the electoral process, with potential consequences for national stability. INEC is yet to respond to the concerns raised by the coalition.