A Peoples Democratic Party stalwart, John Ugeh has knocked the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo over his approval of the nomination of Dr. Sulema  Ovouehor Ikhuoria into the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC). 

According to the stalwart, the nomination raises “integrity concern over the impartiality of the commission” given that one Ikhuoria had been previously accused of electoral misconduct. 

According to him, approving the nomination of someone believed to have engaged in electoral misconduct raises questions on the commission.

He said in 2019, some INEC officials were accused of rigging the electoral outcome. While he said the courts had taken inventory of this, appointing anybody who may have been accused of electoral misconduct into the EDSIEC will undermine the trust which the people have in the commission. 

His statement reads thus: “In a move raising serious concerns about the integrity of electoral processes in Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo has approved the nomination of Dr. Suleman Ovouehor Ikhuoria as a member of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC). However public records reveal that one Suleman Ikhuoria, an INEC ad hoc staff during the contentious 2019 general elections, was previously embroiled in allegations of electoral malpractice.”

Ikhuoria’s nomination has triggered a storm of reactions across political circles and civil society organizations. 

A spokesperson for the opposition PDP, Goodluck Osaretin, called the nominations “a brazen affront to democracy,” alleging they form part of a broader agenda to entrench APC dominance through compromised electoral oversight. “We call on our members in the Edo State House of Assembly to find the courage to do the needful and reject these tainted nominations.”

Civil society leaders have urged Governor Okpebholo to prioritize impartiality and transparency by revisiting the appointments. “The nomination of individuals with alleged controversial electoral histories sets a dangerous precedent for democracy in Edo, and indeed for Nigeria” a representative from the Edo Voters’ Alliance remarked.

As political gladiators reconvene at the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal Wednesday in a bitter dispute over what many analysts have called an irregular governorship election process, observers warn that the impartiality and independence of EDSIEC may be the testing ground of democratic resilience within the state.”