CSO urges Tinubu to withdraw nomination of Umoren as REC

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Akwa Ibom has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw Mr Etekamba Umoren as the State Resident Electoral Commissioner appointee for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The group said Umoren is a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State who had campaigned for the party during the elections.

In a press conference on Monday in Uyo, the coalition of six members led by the Director, Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), Otuekong Franklyn Isong, said the appointment of Umoren will increase mistrust in the commission, and endanger the trust of other political parties in the commission.

They maintained that the appointment has already triggered outrage among Nigerians, and will mar future elections in the country.

“We collectively demand that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the public interest should withdraw the appointment of Mr Etekamba Umoren as a Resident Electoral Commissioner in INEC from Akwa Ibom State.

“That, Mr. Etekamba Umoren does not meet the constitutional requirements of being non-partisan as defined by Section 156(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be appointed as an INEC Commissioner.

“That, Mr Etekamba Umoren is not only a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress but, an active politician who has held several political appointments including as the Secretary to the Government of Akwa Ibom State under the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), before he defected to the ruling APC in Akwa Ibom State on the 8th of August, 2018.

“That, his last political appointment was the Chief of Staff to Senator Godswill Akpabio when Senator Akpabio was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Ministry,” they stated.