The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, has charged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to immediately redeploy the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Anugbum Onuoha, before the September 21 governorship election.

In a statement signed by its Country Director, Mr. John Mayaki, the group urged Yakubu to redeploy Dr. Onuoha for alleged partisanship and affiliation with an interested party in the election.

Mayaki said it is a known fact that Dr. Onuoha is a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State and loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.

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.”