Over 12,000 Nigerians and largely Lagosians, have signed a petition for the removal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner for Lagos State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje for alleged incompetence and bigotry, reports ITREALMS.
As at the time of filing this report, barely 48 hours after the commencement of the petition,
ITREALMS gathered that some 12,451 concerned Nigerians have signed the online petition at Change.org.
This petition is coming as a video showing largely Ndigbo residents in Lagos were being notified at the Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area (LGA) INEC collection center that their PVCs were not found as at Friday, February 3, 2023.
According to the lead petitioner, Tobi Akinbo, said the petition began with deep sense of patriotism and responsibility that every Nigerian needs to sign this petition for the removal and replacement of the Lagos State INEC Commissioner for incompetence, Mr. Agbaje.
"For us to achieve a free, fair and credible election in Lagos State, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, the INEC commissioner must be replaced with someone else who is unbias and non-partisan," Akinbo said.
He recalled that on Thursday 2nd February, 2023, in a live video interview with Suen Okinbaloye on Channels TV, when asked why has available PVCs not been distributed in areas such as: Okota, Surulere, Festac, Oshodi Isolo etc? areas dominated by Nigerians of Igbo extraction. Mr Agbaje who was visibly agitated like a politician, in his defence stated that, "South easterners transferred their voters card to vote in Lagos State".
Akinbo wondered what was the meaning of that statement since Nigerians have the right to transfer their voting cards to any state to vote.
He also wondered why hoarding available PVCs in those areas perceived to be area where majority of Igbo resides?
"This is an attempt to disenfranchise Nigerians from voting," he decried.
Akinbo equally said that Olusegun Agbaje, the Lagos State INEC Commissioner has shown a high level of incompetence, bias and partisanship, therefore, does not deserve to occupy that office.
"If Olusegun Agbaje is allowed to superintend over the Lagos State 2023 general election, then we should forget about free, fair and credible election in Lagos State. For this reasons we need to act now for the INEC to replace him as fast as possible," he said.
Stressing that every Nigerian has the right to vote for any leader of their choice as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as such, all voters must be given their PVCs.
"We must all prevail on the INEC as a matter of urgency to replace Olusegun Agbaje, the INEC commissioner for Lagos State. Lagosians has passed vote of no confidence on him," the petitioners declared.
In a related development, observers in the viral video at the Oshodi/Isolo LGA INEC collection center, alleged a clear evidence of plan to systematically deduct Igbo votes in Lagos.
They wondered why all the names of the batch of cards not found were only Igbos?
Even as they also urged INEC to do something before it becomes too late.
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