Edo REC Says Nigerians Should Forget He Is Wike’s Cousin

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appointed Anugbum Onuoha as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo.

He has defended his appointment, claiming that his family’s relationship to Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), does not disqualify him from the position.

The controversy started when Tony Aziegbemi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in Edo, expressed worries about Onuoha’s competence to oversee a free and fair election in the state and called on INEC to redeploy him because of his ties to Wike. Previously, while Wike was the governor of Rivers State, Onuoha worked as a special adviser on lands.

The PDP’s request for redeployment was denied by INEC in response, stressing that the integrity of the voting process should continue to be the major priority.

Onuoha pleaded with Nigerians to disregard his family history and instead concentrate on his “competency, character, and conscience” in an interview with Channels Television on Friday, September 20. He said, “Politicians will make wild allegations when they discover that you will not do their bidding,” dismissing the claims as being motivated by politics. Additionally, he mentioned that when he was assigned to Edo State in 2023, there were no complaints.

He said; “It is a fact that I am a cousin to the minister. On my appointment, I was invited by the senate. The senate screened and confirmed me. I was sworn in by my chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

“I was posted to Edo last year. Nobody complained that I’m a cousin to the minister. Of course, I’m a cousin to the minister. What we should be talking about at this time is capacity. Do you have the capacity to conduct the election? Are you competent enough?

“From my background, I am an associate professor of law. People should ask, ‘Can he do this job? Has he done a similar thing before?’ Yes, I was an electoral commissioner in Rivers State’s RSIEC. Nobody complained.

“I’m coming from the university. The mere fact that I’m a cousin to Wike does not preclude me from being appointed. Am I not a Nigerian? What Nigerians should be after is the person’s competence and whether he has what it takes to handle the job. Those are the issues they should ask.”

INEC has reaffirmed its support for Onuoha and given the populace assurances about the commission’s dedication to a fair election process in Edo state.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli