The deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Yekini Nabena, has called on Independent National Electoral Commission to warn its official, Mike Igini, against electoral malpractices.
Nabena claimed that Igini, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner of the state, personally campaigned for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom state.
He said: “The Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Akwa Ibom state, Mr Mike Igini despite proven incidents of bias against the APC continues to preside over INEC in Akwa Ibom state.”
He further accused Igini of bringing his blood relation who is serving as an electoral officer in Anambra state to rig the election in favour of the PDP.
Nabena said: “Igini is personally campaigning for PDP, abandoned 31 Electoral Officers (EOs) and brought a cousin, Mr Vincent Ogene from Delta state who is an EO in Anambra state and who did well for PDP in 2019 elections in Anambra state.
“INEC must urgently call its Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini to order and stop this imminent electoral robbery.”
Earlier, The Herald reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) finally issued a Certificate of Return to Sen. Hope Uzodinma for the Imo Governorship seat.
Recall that a seven-man panel of Supreme Court justices in a unanimous decision declared Uzodinma the winner of the March 9, 2019 poll in Imo after sacking Governor Emeka Ihedioha.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the lead judgment, ordered that the Certificate of Return issued to Ihedioha be immediately withdrawn. She directed that a fresh Certificate of Return should be issued to Uzodinma of the APC.
The electoral commission initially said it could not issue the certificate as it had yet to receive the Supreme Court enrolled order mandating it to do so.
Speaking on the matter on Wednesday in Abuja, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said, “The commission is yet to be served with the enrolled order of the Supreme Court judgement; therefore, we cannot issue the Certificate of Return to the APC candidate yet.
“However, once the Commission receives the enrolled order, the CoR will be issued.” But the commission as now rescinded its decision Wednesday afternoon, issuing the certificate without much ceremony at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja.
“I have just confirmed that the Certificate of Return has been presented to the Governor-Elect of Imo State (Hope Uzodinma) by (INEC) National Commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu in the presence of National Commissioners, Abubakar Nahuche and Dr. Mustafa Lecky,” Oyekanmi said.