CSOs reject Tinubu’s nominee, Etekamba Umoren, as INEC REC over ‘partisanship’
• Sir Etekamba Umoren
Itoro Bassey
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has rejected the nomination of Mr Etekamba Umoren as resident electoral commissioner (REC) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Bola Tinubu.
The CSOs are Center For Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), People’s Rights to Life Development Foundation, Vital Partners for Development, Education Support Associates, Civil Society Network for Development, and Youth & Girls Child Education Network.
A State House press release signed by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to thePresident (Media & Publicity) on Wednesday, October 25, announced Mr Umoren as one of the ten new RECs appointed by President Tinubu.
Reacting in a joint press conference on Monday, the CSOs led by Otuekong Franklyn Isong of CHRAN, Comrades Ifot Ifot, Victor David, Ndaeyio Nathaniel, Gideon Usen, and Ime Udoh said section 156(1)(a) of the 1999 constitution prohibits the appointment of any person who is a member of a political party as a member of INEC.
“Mr. Etekamba Umoren is a card carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State who had also campaigned for the APC during the elections.
“The appointment of Mr. Etekamba Umoren will further undermine citizens’ confidence in INEC and increase mistrust in the commission. The appointment will also jeopardize the trust of other political parties in the commission.
“As civil society organizations that were part of the struggle for the return to democracy in Nigeria in 1999, we will not allow any undemocratic action that will truncate our hard-earned democracy which some of our colleagues unfortunately paid the supreme price with their lives”.
The CSOs said they would continue to ensure sustainability of Nigeria’s journey towards democratic consolidation by promoting and protecting the electoral integrity.
They, therefore, called on President Tinubu to “immediately withdraw the appointment of Mr. Etekamba Umoren as Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC from Akwa Ibom State as a matter of urgency
“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.
“Mr. Etekamba Umoren is not only a card carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress but, an active politician who had 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.
“His last political appointment was the Chief of Staff to Senator Godswill Akpabio when Senator Akpabio was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Ministry.
“The appointment of Mr Umoren has already triggered outrage among Nigerians with many individuals and groups calling for the withdrawal of the appointment by President Tinubu because, Mr. Umoren had openly declared his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Etekamba Umoren had also campaigned for the ruling APC during the general elections in Akwa Ibom State.
“The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria is of the view that if the appointment of Etekamba Umoran is not withdrawn by Mr. President, it will mar future elections in the country and casts doubts on the independence of INEC.
“Mr Etekamba Umoren, being a card carrying member of the APC, is not qualified for such appointment in-line with relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria”, they stated.
