Group Calls For The Sack Of Akwa Ibom REC Mike Igini; Alleges Bias And Financial Misconduct

The Save Nigeria Group (SNG) leadership has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government to investigate the activities of the Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini.

In a statement released on Wednesday, 29th June, the group said that the State REC has derailed from his primary assignment. In his statement, Comrade Benson Iheanacho, the South-South coordinator of the group, stressed that Mike Igini had exposed himself as a corrupt and biased umpire.

Part of the statement reads.

“Mike Igini has constantly shown his hatred for the APC in Akwa Ibom State. His actions and utterances show a clear case of bias and disloyalty to the ethics of fairness in democracy. A REC who is constantly on media platforms, openly taking sides in a game where INEC should be an unbiased umpire, shows you his heart, which poses a danger to our fragile democracy.

We are calling on INEC and all stakeholders in the Nigerian dream to scrutinise his actions and inactions, question his source of income and sack him if he’s found wanting.”

The group also alleged that the Akwa Ibom State REC has been compromised and questioned his wealth source.

“Mike Igini is always very vocal when he’s in front of a camera but discreet regarding his source of wealth. A REC who is currently building a massive edifice to house his chambers in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State has some questions to answer. A REC who owns the biggest shopping mall in Lekki Phase 1 has some questions to answer. We call on all agencies responsible for curbing corruption in the electoral system to beam their light on Igini. He has not just shown his commitment to a particular political interest but has also acquired a lot of wealth over the years. The wealth that cannot be traced to any legitimate transaction.”

In recent days the Akwa Ibom State REC has been in the news for various reasons. He has openly challenged a High Court ruling on the APC congresses in the state, kicked against the APC’s duly elected State Exco and attempted to alter the list of duly nominated APC candidates in the upcoming general elections. This has raised concern in many quarters; Just recently, the South-South Zonal Zonal Organizing Secretary of the APC, Dr Blessing Agbomhere, called for the sack of Mike Igini over his role in the controversy rocking the APC governorship and senatorial primary elections in Akwa Ibom State. Also, various youth bodies have protested in the State capital, calling for the resignation of the REC due to his interference in the activities building up to elections in Akwa Ibom State.

Credit: Peter Albert