Again, PDP urges INEC to remove Agu as Imo REC
The Peoples Democratic Party has once again urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to with immediate effect redeploy the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Sylvia Agu.
The PDP, in a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Monday, said Agu should be removed “for allegedly being compromised to manipulate the November 11, 2023 governorship elections in Imo state in favour of the All Progressives Congress.”
The party further implores Yakubu to emulate the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who redeployed the Commissioners of Police in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states, in response to the outcry and demands of the people for neutrality in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the states.
“Prof. Yakubu should forestall an impending crisis in the Imo State election by heeding the insistent outcry, Petitions and Protests by the people of Imo State, Political Parties, Civil Society Organizations as well as Ohaneze Youth Council for the removal of Prof. Sylvia Agu who has been allegedly compromised by the APC.
The people of Imo State cannot accept any electoral process with Prof. Agu as REC, given her reported role in the brazen manipulation of the 2023 National and House of Assembly elections in Imo State in favour of the APC, which is still in the public domain,” it added.
According to the PDP, to restore confidence in the electoral process, guarantee a credible election and avert crisis in the state, “the redeployment of Agu out of Imo State is, therefore, the only way.”
“This is especially so as there are very disturbing allegations in the public space of clandestine meetings between Prof. Agu and certain APC agents said to have been facilitated by her close relative, who is an APC national officer, ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo state,” the statement added.
While calling on the INEC chairman that the integrity of an election principally lies in the confidence of the electorate in the electoral process. the PDP said, “Agu has lost the rectitude as Resident Electoral Commissioner and should not be part of the conduct of the November 11, 2023 governorship election. Her continuing stay in office as Imo REC is vexatious and a recipe for crisis.
