Edo 2024: ‘Let Them Tell Me What I Have Done Wrong’ – Wike’s Cousin Onuoha Sends Message To Political Parties

The Edo Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and cousin to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Anugbum Onuoha, has called on political parties in Edo State to provide any incriminating evidence against him as the state prepares for its governorship election on Saturday.

Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Onuoha asserted his competence to oversee a free and fair election, urging parties to dismiss allegations of favouritism directed at him due to his familial ties with Wike.

The call comes in the wake of a request from Tony Aziegbemi, the chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to redeploy Onuoha due to perceived biases. Aziegbemi expressed doubts about Onuoha’s ability to ensure an impartial electoral process.

In response to these concerns, Chief Press Secretary to INEC, Rotimi Oyekanmi, affirmed that the commission would not be redeploying Onuoha and encouraged the PDP to concentrate on the election itself rather than focusing on the REC.

He assured the public that measures are in place to guarantee a transparent electoral process.

Onuoha maintained that his relationship with Wike should not overshadow his qualifications and commitment to conducting a credible election.

He said, “It is a fact that I am a cousin to the minister. Before my appointment, I was invited by the Senate. It screened me, and I was confirmed. I was sworn in by Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, and posted to Edo.

“Since last year, nobody complained that I am a cousin to the minister. Of course, I am a cousin to the minister. What we should be talking about at this time is the capacity to conduct the election.

“From my background, I am an Associate Professor of Law. People should now ask if I have done thing job before. Yes, I was an electoral commissioner in Rivers State. Nobody has complained. I am coming from the university. I am not a politician. The mere fact that I am a cousin to Wike does not preclude me from being appointed.

“I’m I not a Nigerian? Nigerians should have gone beyond this level.”

Onuoha urged political parties to come forward with evidence they had against him that could have warranted their attacks.

He added, “I challenge all the political parties in Edo State to tell me what I have done wrong so far.

“I am ready for the Edo election, and I will not favour any political party. At the end of the day, the people of Edo will have an election that is free from pity.

“The campaign for political parties ended yesterday at midnight. We have only one activity left, and that is the election for tomorrow. The INEC is prepared for this election. Yesterday, we distributed sensitive materials. And before we did that; we invited all the stakeholders, and 18 political parties and their agents were on ground to inspect the sensitive materials before the deployment to their respective local governments.

“We asked if they had any reservations, and they said they were satisfied with everything they saw.”