Christian group asks INEC to sack Agbaje over his anti-Igbo comments
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A Christian group in Lagos has asked the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to sack Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Segun Agbaje for openly justifying the need to disenfranchise Igbo residents in the state.
The group, Leaders After God’s Own Spirit Initiating A New State, wants Agbaje removed immediately for making such inciting comments in a live interview on Channels Television on Wednesday.
Agbaje gave excuses on tape why residents in the Okota and Oshodi axis – with large Igbo populations – cannot get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and referred to Igbos as immigrants.
A statement signed by the group’s leader, Bolaji Akinyemi, titled, “Conspiracy against Democracy: INEC REC; Segun Agbaje’s Outburst, Other Matters Arising”, accused Agbaje of complicity in a plan to disenfranchise Igbos in Lagos.
“In a reckless political communication known only with thugs, he made it clear that the reason they cannot have their PVC is that many of them are from the South East part of the country, inferring that they are immigrants,” Akinyemi lamented.
He said there is fear in Lagos of an inconclusive election as happened in the Osun governorship vote in 2018 when Agbaje was the REC before his redeployment to Lagos.
“One could possibly have overlooked his transfer to Lagos as an internal issue to which the Commission has the right but not after his uncharitable comment about Igbos in Lagos.”
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Agbaje not fit to be REC
“On moral grounds, Segun Agbaje should by now be on his way out of INEC without a petition or protest.
“Agbaje is a stigma on the integrity of the Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC. INEC Chairman can’t keep a tribal bigot and nepotistic personality in his system and keep the integrity of his organization,” Akinyemi added, per Daily Post.
He dismissed a reportedly planned protest over fuel and naira scarcity and asked Lagosians to rather to rise up against injustice meted out to Igbos in the state.
“The only protest acceptable for now is ‘Segun Agbaje must go!’ Our only hope for a better and greater future is the grand national protest scheduled for the 25th of February 2023!
“Our placards being our PVCs, anything that will compromise the system to oversee a free and fair election must be gotten rid of.
“Agbaje has done it before and by his comment on the Igbos, the signs are obvious of what he is capable of.
“If Igbo will vote in Lagos, and their votes will count like that of every other tribe, then Agbaje must not remain INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos state.”