The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reiterated its call to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, urging the immediate redeployment of the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Sylvia Agu. The party alleges that Prof. Agu’s alleged compromise in manipulating the forthcoming November 11, 2023 governorship elections in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) necessitates her removal.
The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba called upon Prof. Yakubu to follow the example set by the Inspector General of Police, who redeployed Commissioners of Police in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States in response to public demands for neutrality in the November 11, 2023 governorship elections in these states. The party asserts that this action is crucial to prevent a looming crisis in the Imo State election.
The outcry, petitions, and protests from the people of Imo State, political parties, civil society organizations, and the Ohaneze Youth Council for the removal of Prof. Sylvia Agu, whom they allege has been compromised by the APC, cannot be ignored. The PDP contends that the people of Imo State cannot accept an electoral process with Prof. Agu as REC, given her alleged involvement in manipulating the 2023 National and House of Assembly elections in favor of the APC, which remains a matter of public record.
The removal of Sylvia Agu from her current position is seen as the only way to restore public confidence in the electoral process, ensure a credible election, and prevent a crisis in the state. The PDP highlights disturbing allegations of clandestine meetings between Prof. Agu and certain APC agents, said to be facilitated by her close relative, who is an APC national officer, ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.
The PDP underscores the vital role that public confidence plays in the integrity of an election and insists that Prof. Sylvia Agu’s continued tenure as Resident Electoral Commissioner is detrimental to the electoral process. The party emphasizes that her removal is imperative to safeguard the electoral process’s integrity and prevent any potential crisis.
The PDP reiterates its demand for the immediate redeployment of Prof. Sylvia Agu by the INEC Chairman, with the aim of restoring public confidence and maintaining the electoral process’s integrity.
