Group asks INEC commissioner, REC to recuse selves from alleged $4m bribery

Again, a group, Save Nigeria movement (SNM), has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, to recuse himself from overseeing the Anambra State governorship poll.

Convener of the group, Rev. Solomon Semaka, also extended the call to the Anambra INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Nwachukwu Orji.

The group said that the call was based on the need by the duo to explain their alleged involvement in a $4 million bribery scandal as part of an attempt to compromise the Anambra election in favour of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

It thereby demanded the immediate probe and suspension of Ibeanu, insisting that no sensitive duty must be assigned to him in the entire period of the Anambra governorship election, considering his alleged compromised dispositions.

The group also urged all non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and critical stakeholders to look into the allegations against Ibeanu and advise him to recuse himself from the election in Anambra State.

It claimed that weeks after calling for the suspension of Ibeanu from INEC, it was disheartening that he is still calling the shots in INEC playing “very unsavoury roles aimed at compromising the process.”

“Just this weekend, Prof Ibeanu travelled to Awka to mobilise support for his paymaster. We understand that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Nwachukwu Orji, was his research assistant at UNN where he first helped him secure employment and later appointed REC. This means that the REC is at the beck and call of the professor.

“The attention of the public and indeed all stakeholders is once again drawn to the unprofessional conduct of Ibeanu and his determination to not only skew the process in favour of Obiano but use his office to stampede the REC and the local council electoral officers do his bidding. Information at our disposal also revealed that Ibeanu has allegedly collected more funds and was in Anambra State during the weekend to distribute same.

“While security agencies and INEC are yet to commence the investigation of the professor, we demand that such enquiry is begun immediately.

“We make these demands believing that appropriate agencies will rise to the occasion and do the needful. Prof. Ibeanu has become a ticking bomb. Let all men and women of good conscience diffuse it now before he explodes on everyone. A stitch in time saves nine. To be before warned is to be before armed.”