Deadlock As INEC Rebuffs APC Petition To Sack Igini

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has rebuffed the petition by the All Progressives Congress, APC seeking the sack of the Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini.

The APC had in a petition received on July 3, 2022 sought the dismissal of Igini within 48 hours failing which it would seek other approaches to fire the human rights activist from his position.

The petition directed to the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu was endorsed by the APC Zonal Organizing Secretary, South-South, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere.

The APC was yet to respond to the apparent rebuff of its plea to INEC to sack Igini.

GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that Igini has been central to the standoff between the party and INEC over issues pertaining to the failure of the party to file nominations for certain positions in the forthcoming General Election.

Igini has been accused by the faction loyal to Senator Godswill Akpabio of working against its interest. Igini who in 2019 stopped schemes that were supposedly aimed to return Akpabio to the Senate has been accused by the former governor’s associates of again barring him from the Senate election in 2023.

In the petition against Igini, the APC accused Igini of “incessant act of bias, injustice, sabotage and malevolence meted out on the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom state.”

Noting what he claimed as Igini’s bias against the APC, Agbomhere wrote:

“From the foregoing facts we have just made available to you, Mr. Chairman, there will be no gainsaying that Mr. Mike Igini, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, has been compromised, shown partisanship and regrettably so, abused his office as an INEC official hence we make the following prayers to you;

“That, Mr. Mike Igini is not fit and proper to remain as the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner of the State. This is because a free and fair election begins with a free and fair process. Hence Mr. Igini has compromised, he therefore lacks the capacity to conduct or supervise any election in the state.

“That, Mr. Mike Igini be sacked and dismissed within 48 hours from the time of receipt of this petition.

“That, Mr. Mike Igini be committed to the relevant authorities for prosecution for the violation of Section 26 of the Electoral Act of 2022.

“May I remind you, Mr. Chairman, that the integrity of the Commission is greatly at stake here as this issue has generated not just statewide protests but also nationwide concerns by both members of our party and the generality of Akwa Ibomites and Nigerians. We believe that Mike Igini is not the only INEC REC in Nigeria hence his position should not bring disrepute of any sort to the Commission neither should same be used as an oppressive tool against the All Progressives Congress or any other political party.

“Finally, Mr. Chairman, we will be more than willing to approach the Code of Conduct Tribunal against Mr. Mike Igini and also approach the Federal High Court to obtain an Order of Mandamus to compel the Commission in any event where our prayers and demands are not met within the time given”.

“In 2019, Mr. Mike Igini acted in gross violation of the Electoral Act by sabotaging the Senatorial Elections of His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio. He did this, by maliciously supervising the cancellation of the votes of the Distinguished Senator all in his bid to ensure his loss of the election”.

However, with the 48 hour notice long gone, GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that INEC may have rebuffed the APC petition to sack Igini.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG