Benue INEC Commissioner nominee, Agundu denies PDP membership allegation

By Adeleye Kunle

The Resident Electoral Commissioner nominee for Benue State has reacted to a petition that he should be stopped for being a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, member, saying that he has never been partisan all his life.

The nominee, Dr. Oliver Agundu said the petition, which purportedly said he is partisan was the handiwork of enemies to first of all tarnish his image and stop his appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioner by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Agundu reacted to the petition against him by a group operating under the aegis of the National Forum for Strict Adherence to Justice (NAFSAJ) on Tuesday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission, chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya.

The petition dated 17th July, 2022, and signed by Tordoo Akuma, addressed to the chairman of the Committee, said they have evidence that Dr. Agundu, a lecturer at the Benue State University, who is now INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner nominee for Benue State is an alleged registered member of the PDP.

Part of the petition read: “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”.