The nomination of All Progressives Congress, APC, card-carrying member from Akwa Ibom and Edo States as Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been condemned by the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG.
The TMG said President Ahmed Bola Tinubu had repeated the same mistakes made by his predecessors in nominations of politicians to such sensitive electoral positions.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja, the Chairman of Transition Monitoring Group, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, kicked against the kicks against the nominations of Mr. Etekamba Umoren from Akwa Ibom State and Mr. Isah Shaka Ehimeakne from Edo State.
He said, “We appear to be making the same mistakes of the past administration where partisan and card-carrying members of ruling political parties are nominated and appointed as Resident Electoral Commissioners of INEC.
“Recalling how this manifested in the 2023 election especially in Adamawa State, Nigerians are worried that the current president is going the same direction.
“While TMG notes the constitutional powers of the president to make these appointments, it is also unconstitutional to appoint partisan persons to these positions.
“TMG particularly kicks against the nominations of Mr. Etekamba Umoren from Akwa Ibom State and Mr. Isah Shaka Ehimeakne from Edo State.
“Mr. Etekamba Umoren, is believed to be a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He served as an aide to the current President of the Senate, Dr. Godswill Akpabio, when he was the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
“He also served as the Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate when he was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. Mr. Etekamba Umoren’s deep involvement in partisan politics is a matter of public knowledge as he publicly defected, along with his boss, Dr. Godswill Akpabio, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in 2018.
“Mr. Isah Shaka Ehimeakne of Edo State is believed to be a card-carrying member of the APC, who is engaged in partisan politics both online and offline.
“Prior to his appointment as a Resident Electoral Commissioner, his Facebook page in his name, Isah Shaka, embarked on campaigns for the APC and its candidates.
“This depicts his partisanship which disqualifies him from appointment as a Resident Electoral Commissioner that requires neutrality and non-partisanship in line with the constitutional provisions.”
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