A Resident Electoral Commissioner nominee for Benue State of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Oliver Agundu on Tuesday distanced himself from a petition which purportedly said he is partisan.
Contrary to a petition alleging that he his a card carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agundu said it is a calculated attempt to tarnish his image and stop his appointment.
Agundu spoke on Tuesday when he appeared before the Senate committtee on Independent National Electoral Commission and chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya.
It would be recalled that a group under the aegis, National Forum for Strict Adherence to Justice (NAFSAJ) in a petition dated 27th July, 2022, signed by Tordoo Akuma and addressed to chairman of the committtee alleged that it has material evidence that the nominee, a lecturer at Benue State, University, who is now INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner nominee for Benue State is an alleged registered member of the PDP.
The petition said “Therefore, in reference to the Nigerian Constitution, his nomination violates paragraph 14 part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended which states that a member of INEC shall be non-partisan”.
But the Benue State University lecturer said “I want to state very clearly that am not a member of any political party and have never been a member of any party.
“Basically, I feel that this a false and fake petition aimed at tarnishing my image and possibly seeking for distinguished senators to stop my nomination”.
Meanwhile, Senator representing Cross River North, Senator Jarigbe Agom, a member of the committtee and supporting other senator put it succinctly, “We have listened to you and we have no doubt that you are an erudite scholar as young as you are, that means the sky is the limit.
“We have no doubt as to your qualification, capacity and competence and you are eminently qualified” Agom said.
In the view of the lawmaker, there are conflicting positions in the petition.
