ESV Amb. Tony Okonigene Accuses Edo INEC REC of Unethical Conduct in Edo 2024 Election
By Kingsley Ohens
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, ESV Amb. Tony Okonigene has accused the REC of unethical conduct and complicity in electoral fraud during the Edo 2024 governorship election. Okonigene, a member of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), expressed deep disappointment in his colleague, describing him the REC’s actions as a “legendary” manipulation of election results.
The open letter, dated October 9, 2024, alleged that Dr. Onuoha, in connivance with anti-democratic forces, facilitated the rigging of election results in three local government areas. According to Okonigene, the REC hijacked the results directly from the ward collation centers to the state headquarters, where he personally oversaw their manipulation in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okonigene drew attention in particular, to a letter from Dr. Onuoha, dated October 8, in which the REC denied preventing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legal team from accessing the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS) and other sensitive election materials. Okonigene countered these claims, asserting that the REC was directly involved in sponsoring APC thugs to block access to the INEC secretariat, allegedly to buy time to manipulate the BVAS and other documents further.
In a damning conclusion, Okonigene called for an investigation by the national executive committee of NIESV into the REC’s conduct during the election, arguing that such actions tarnish the reputation of their noble profession. He also stated that Dr. Onuoha’s behavior should disqualify him from holding any future role within the institution.
The letter reflects the ongoing tensions following the highly contentious Edo 2024 governorship election, as accusations of electoral malfeasance continue to surface, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the electoral process in the state.
