The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) request to redeploy Anugbum Onuoha, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo State, ahead of the governorship election scheduled for September 21.
The PDP had raised concerns about Onuoha’s impartiality due to his familial ties with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and accused him of potential bias towards the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In response, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated that Onuoha would remain in his position. Oyekanmi emphasised that the outcome of the election would depend on the voting process, not the REC’s role.
He assured that results from the 4,519 polling units would be declared by Presiding Officers, with party agents and stakeholders present. These results will be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing portal to ensure transparency.
He stated, “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 added.
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