Ahead of the 2023 general election, the State Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Jarret Tenebe, yesterday accused the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission of bias.
Tenebe, made the remark yesterday while reacting to the removal of the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Johnson Alabibo Sinikiem.
The State Deputy Chairman said the removal of the REC is not unconnected with the issues he had with the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseku over the conduct of the last Edo State PDP primaries.
According to Mr. Tenebe, the action of the National Leadership of INEC shows clearly even to the blind that the Electoral Body is now an arm of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and is already compromising it’s neutrality as an Umpire.
He warned that any attempt by INEC and the PDP to rig the forthcoming elections in the State will be highly resisted by Edo people who are yeaning for good governance in the State.
The notable politician described Dr. Alabibo Sinikiem as a conscientious public officer who is not ready to compromise his oath of office.
Mr. Tenebe said he was drawing the attention of the entire World to the fact that INEC intends to rig the 2023 polls in the state as demonstrated in their actions. The Edo APC boss urged the electoral body to as a matter of urgency return Dr. Alabibo as the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner to absolve itself of impartiality and complicity.
It would be recalled that on 28th July, 2022, the Edo State REC was detained by the Edo State Police Command with issues arising from the recently conducted PDP primaries. His detention by the police arouse from a petition the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki was said to have forwarded to the police authorities.