The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has acknowledged that he is related to Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State. This is in reaction to claims that Onuoha and Wike are working together to sabotage the South-South state’s next governorship election, scheduled for September 21, 2024. The PDP’s Anthony Aziegbemhin, the chairman of the Edo State chapter, expressed concern on Thursday over the minister and the INEC REC’s apparent too-close relationship.
Aziegbemhin continued by disclosing that Onuoha is Wike’s cousin and that, during the latter’s tenure as Rivers State Governor, the former held the positions of Commissioner and Special Adviser for Lands, Survey, and Housing. In a complaint letter addressed to Mahmood Yakubu, the national chairman of INEC, the PDP chairman made these claims and demanded that Onuoha be redeployed from the state in advance of the crucial election. These two have too strong of a bond to ignore because they are good friends and share a lot in common.
To be explicit, the following describes the two’s relationship:
The Minister of the FCT, Mr. Wike, is related to the aforementioned Edo REC. During Mr. Wike’s time as the governor of Rivers, he further functioned as a former Commissioner and Special Adviser for Lands, Survey, and Housing, the letter stated in part. Nobody can scare Wike’s relative, he claims. In response to Aziegbemhin’s accusations, Wike first acknowledged that he and the REC were related before criticizing the chairman of the Edo PDP. Are you aware of Aziegbemhin’s identity? This individual is among those lacking in moral fiber. He realizes that he lacks character. “Wealth is an awful thing.” Allow him to question me about how he got to be the PDP chairman.
On Friday, September 13, 2024, the FCT minister stated on Channels Television’s Politics Today, “I, Wike, played a role [in his emergence].” Wike questioned whether Aziegbemhin was aware that Onuoha was his cousin when Governor Godwin Obaseki invited Asue Ighodalo, the party’s candidate, to his home twice in order to solicit support and endorsement. “Was Obaseki, his governor, present when I told him we were scouting to help Ighodalo? At that time, they were unaware that the REC was my cousin.
“They were unaware that the REC was my cousin when Obaseki took Ighodalo to my house twice in order to assist him. They only found out today that he is my cousin. When was he posted? Over a year ago. That, you see, is my issue with this nation. He said, “If I told them when they approached me that I would not support you or anyone else because the person I did support never made a difference, I would have been thoroughly humiliated.” He said that the INEC REC would not submit to threats or intimidation and that he could not be intimidated.
“Let me explain the error they committed. You know why I accused my first cousin? You are meeting a rock, but I thought I was strong. Not even the head of INEC can give him instructions. He will tell you to quit your work and go to hell. “You see, Nigeria has a problem up until you grovel.” He has been there for more than a year, and you never realized he was Wike’s cousin,” he remarked.
The FCT Minister questioned whether the accusers expected him to obstruct his relative’s appointment because it infuriated them in response to the claim that he influenced Onuoha’s nomination and deployment to Edo. “So I am going to sway my opponent’s appointment?” Should I go sway the appointment of my enemy? I should thus go and call the Imam as soon as I learn that my cousin has been nominated. Please refuse to allow my relative to be appointed, say pastors when you call them. Should I refrain from pleading with him to get appointed? What kind of absurdity is that?