Osun APC chieftain lauds sack of 3 INEC RECs

By Folarunso Alagbede

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu over his request to the Senate to terminate the appointments of three suspended Resident Electoral Commissioners, (RECs) over alleged gross misconduct in the 2023 general elections.

Peoples Daily reports that the suspended Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) RECs were; Ike Uzochukwu, Abia State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, Adamawa State, and Nura Ali, Sokoto State.

Oyintiloye said the sack of the RECs was a clear signal of the President’s desire to sanitise the country’s electoral system.

The APC chieftain, who said this in a chat with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, also commended the Senate for granting the president’s request to sack the suspended RECs.

Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said the request of the President to the Senate to sack the affected RECs and the subsequent approval by the Red Chamber was a big step towards electoral reforms.

He said the sacking of the RECs would serve as a strong warning to others, that bribery and corruption would not be allowed in the country’s electoral system.

Oyintiloye said the sacking of the suspended RECs would restore confidence in the country’s electoral processes and also ensure accountability.

“I want to commend the president for the bold step to terminate the appointments of the suspended RECs.

“That is an indication that the President is keen to give the country a free, fair and credible election that Nigerians will be proud of.

“The suspension and termination of the appointments of the three RECs; Ike Uzochukwu (Abia), Hudu Yunusa-Ari (Adamawa), and Nura Ali (Sokoto) will serve as a deterrent to other RECs who have similar traits of corruption in them.

“The President has promised to fight corruption and this will serve as a lesson to other public servants that the country is moving forward,” he said.

Oyintiloye also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for taken disciplinary action of suspension against the RECs in March 2023.

The APC chieftain recalled that Yunusa-Ari was suspended for unlawfully usurping the Returning Officer’s role in the 2023 Adamawa governorship election and making an unauthorised declaration of results.

He said Ali and Uzochukwu were suspended for dereliction of duty, with Ali also facing prosecution over bribery allegations.

Oyintiloye also commended INEC over the conviction of Prof. Ignatius Udok, for electoral fraud, adding that “this shows the commission’s commitment to electoral integrity”.

He said the sentencing of Udok, who was the Collation /Returning Officer for Essien Udim State Constituency seat in the 2019 general election by an Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, was a strong signal that the country’s electrical reform is evolving.

Oyintiloye, however, urged President Tinubu not to relent in his fight against corruption, adding that the fight has started yielding positive results.