We won’t remove Wike’s cousin as Edo REC, INEC tells PDP

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly declined the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) demand to redeploy the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha.

The PDP raised concerns over Onuoha’s close ties with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, suggesting a potential bias in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the upcoming Edo governorship election. Onuoha, according to multiple reports, is a cousin to Wike. Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, has had his loyalty to the PDP questioned in recent months.

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Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, alongside the national leadership of the PDP, expressed fears that Onuoha’s relationship with Wike could influence the electoral process.

Anthony Aziegbemhin, PDP’s chairman in Edo State, formally submitted a protest letter to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, calling for Onuoha’s immediate removal. The letter highlighted that Onuoha had previously served as a Commissioner and Special Adviser to Wike during his tenure as Rivers State governor.

In response, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, reiterated that the commission would not redeploy the Edo REC. He urged the PDP to focus on the election process rather than on Onuoha, assuring the public that the election would be conducted transparently.

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“The REC for Edo State will not be redeployed. The governorship election will take place in 4,519 polling units, not in the REC’s office. Polling unit results will be declared by the respective Presiding Officers in the presence of accredited party agents and stakeholders after the voting, sorting, and counting processes,” Oyekanmi clarified.