By Jude Opara
Ahead of the National Assembly by-elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), in Edo, has called for the immediate removal of the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, (REC), Dr Anugbum Onuaha.
Chairman of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi, made this appeal yesterday, in Benin during a press conference.
Aziegbemi said the REC allegedly acted in a compromised manner during the last governorship election, leading to a loss of confidence in his neutrality.
It would be recalled that INEC had fixed August 16, for the bye-elections in Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency to fill two vacant legislative seats vacated by Senator Monday Okpebholo and Dennis Idahosa.
He said that Onuaha’s continued presence poses a threat to the credibility and fairness of the upcoming bye-elections, accusing the REC of playing an ignoble role in the previous polls, undermining the integrity of the entire electoral process in Edo.
The PDP called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to act swiftly by redeploying the REC and restoring public trust in the process.
It also demanded the removal of certain Electoral Officers, EOs, who served during the 2024 gubernatorial election in Edo.
“We also demand that the EOs who were in Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Egor, Etsako West, Etsako East, and Akoko Edo should steer clear of the bye-elections.
“Their involvement in the irregularities that marred the last governorship election makes their participation unacceptable,” he said.
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