Some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom have claimed that one of the nominees screened and cleared as Resident Electoral Commissioner, last week by the Senate, Etekamba Umoren was not a member of the ruling party.
Umoren had served in different capacities as Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government in the south-south state.
The disclaimer by the APC chieftains was on the heels of opposition which trailed the screening and confirmation of Umoren by the Red Chamber.
A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations,
Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), last week kicked against the nomination of Umoren.
Addressing journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, Director of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, described the appointment as unconstitutional.
He noted that section 156(1)(a) and Third Part I, item F, Paragraph 14(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended) outrightly disqualifies any person in partisan politics and card-carrying member of a political party as REC.
He maintained that; “Mr Etekamba Umoren does not meet the constitutional requirements of being non-partisan as defined by section 156(1)(a) of the 1999 constitution to be appointed as INEC Commissioner.
He further alleged that 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 Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government under the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) , before he defected to the ruling APC on the 8th day of August , 2018.”
But addressing journalist in Abuja at the weekend, Honourable Eseme Eyiboh who spoke on behalf of the Forum of Akwa-Ibom APC candidates said the allegations against Umoren were misplaced.
He said: “The issue over Etekamba Umoren as nominee is very clear. I can tell you that the law says the person shouldn’t be a card-carrying member of a political party.
“Yes, he served in Akwa Ibom as Permanent secretary and SSG, not a political appointment. So, there is a difference between a political appointee and a civil servant. As a member of a political party, his name must be on the party register and pay his financial dues.
“Ordinary mode of dressing doesn’t make you a member of a party. Membership of an organisation isn’t determined by what he wears but by his name on the party register.
“Again, in this age of artificial intelligence, there is also the possibility of cloning. What determines membership is his name on the party register. So it isn’t right, it is spurious that he is a member of a political party.
“On the issue of defection from APC, they should bring his letter of resignation for us to see. So, those who can say he can’t be REC don’t have their facts. Yes, he had been a Chief of Staff and SSG and none of these positions make him a member of a political party. We should know the facts of this case. Those CSOs should attach their membership of APC to their petition.
“He who alleges must prove. If they insist they should bring out the facts.”
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