Edo REC won’t be redeployed, INEC replies PDP
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has rejected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) request to redeploy the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha, before the September 21 governorship election.
Onuoha’s relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been a subject of controversy, with Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP raising concerns of possible bias by the REC in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Edo State PDP Chairman, Anthony Aziegbemhin, had submitted a protest letter to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, seeking Onuoha’s redeployment, citing his close ties with the Minister of the FCT, being his cousin.
However, the Chief Press Secretary INEC, Rotimi Oyekanmi, has said the REC would not be redeployed.
He stated that the voting process, not the REC’s office, would decide the election’s result.
According to Oyekanmi, Presiding Officers would announce polling unit results in front of party representatives and interested parties. The results will then be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing webpage for public viewing.
He said, “The REC for Edo State will not be redeployed. The governorship election will be conducted on 21st September 2024 in 4,519 polling units, not in the REC’s office.
“In the same manner, polling unit results will be declared by the respective Presiding Officers after the voting, ballot sorting and counting processes, in the presence of accredited party agents and other stakeholders.
“The PO will also take a picture of the PU result in each polling unit with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, and upload the same to the INEC Result Viewing portal. This process is not the same as electronic voting or electronic transmission and collation of results.
“The IReV is for transparency purposes. The Nigerian constitution does not yet recognise electronic voting. Copies of the PU results will be given to accredited party agents”, he said.
WESTERN POST reported that the PDP had also refused to sign the Peace Accord for the election.
