Tunji Adedeji
Worried by Senator Hope Uzodinma, Imo State Governor’s statement that has gone viral on social media, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has challenged the fair skinned governor to make himself clear on the claim that INEC senior Staff in the Southeast are all card carrying members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The Commission in a statement issued by the INEC National Chairman spokesperson, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said Gov Uzodinma”s aspersions on the Commission cannot stop it from doing the right thing.
The Chief Press Secretary averred that casting aspersions on the Commission cannot deter it from doing the right thing.
Recall that Imo State Governor had while explaining the grounds on which he approached the Supreme Court, accused INEC of deliberately excluding his votes because it was working for the PDP candidate.
The governor said, “all we are asking is that INEC should remain neutral especially in the Southeast.
All INEC senior Staff in the Southeast are obviously PDP carrying members to the extent that once a result is not in the favour of the PDP, it will go all out to upturn the result”.
It will be recalled that the Imo governor, a two time Senator was a member of the PDP until late 2018 when he decamped to the APC.
But the Commission in the response noted that, “it is quite surprising that Mr Hope Uzodinma is affirming that all INEC senior staff in the South East are card carrying members of a political party.
“How did he come to that conclusion? The Commission will be grateful if he could supply the INEC headquarters with the compelling proof of that allegation so that action can be taken”.
It added that, “however, Nigerians would have noticed that some politicians have now formed the habit of casting aspersions on the Commission whenever we insist on the right thing. Notwithstanding, we will not be discouraged and we will not be deterred by these unwarranted attacks.
“The Commission will continue to discharge its constitutional responsibilities without fear and favour. We are surprised that he could make such allegation. ”
