Wike also revealed that the Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki came with the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, seeking support
By Kehinde Okeowo
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Friday admitted that the Edo Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC),
Anugbum Onuoha is his first cousin.
He made this known while featuring on Channels Television’s programme ‘Politics Today’.
Wike noted that his cousin has been the REC in Edo State for over a year and expressed surprise that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is just complaining about him few days to governorship election in the state.
He, however, insisted that Onuoha is stubborn and cannot be influenced by anyone, including his boss, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman.
The Minister went on to disclose that the Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki came with the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, seeking support.
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According to him, he told Obaseki that he would not support Ighodalo, adding that he supported the governor in the past and got nothing in return.
Speaking during the interview, Wike said, “When his governor, Obaseki, came to meet me to support Ighodalo, he (referring to Aziegbemi) was not there. They did not know that the REC is my cousin.
“When Obaseki brought Ighodalo to my house two times to support him, they did not know the REC is my cousin. It is just today that they know that he (Onuoha) is my cousin.
“He was posted to Edo more than one year ago. That is the problem I have with this country.
“I told them (Obaseki and Ighodalo) when they came to see me that I’m not going to support Ighodalo. Neither am I going to support anybody. The one I supported you never helped with anything but rather I was insulted.
“For accusing my first cousin, they have made a mistake. You know why? I was thinking I am strong; you are meeting a rock (Onuoha).
“Even the INEC chairman cannot tell him what to do. He is a stubborn man; he will tell him ‘go to hell with your job’.
“You see the problem with Nigeria. For more than one year, he has been there; they never knew he was Wike’s cousin.”
Wike was reacting to a call by Edo PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi for the redeployment of Onuoha due to his ties with the former Rivers State governor.
Aziegbemi had expressed a lack of confidence in the REC’s ability to conduct a free and fair election in the state.
