Ohanaeze youths demand redeployment of INEC National Commissioner

The Ohanaeze Youth Forum (OYF) has expressed concern over alleged threats to the integrity of the 2027 elections in the South-East due to the alleged partisanship of the INEC National Commissioner for Imo, Anambra, and Ebonyi states, Dr. Ken Nnamdi Ukeagu. Ukeagu is accused of abandoning his role's neutrality in favor of affiliations with opposition candidates, notably the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and other regional opposition figures.

The forum asserts that Ukeagu has been actively collaborating with these candidates, leaking confidential INEC documents to them and providing electoral consultancy services. This conduct, according to OYF, constitutes serious breaches of the Electoral Act and the oath of impartiality taken by INEC officers. The potential consequences of allowing Ukeagu to continue in his position are grave, as they include undermining public trust, compromising election fairness, and potentially provoking unrest and further political instability, particularly in the politically sensitive South-East region.

OYF has called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to immediately transfer Ukeagu from his current role while conducting a thorough and transparent investigation into these allegations. The group has also forwarded a petition containing all the gathered evidence to the INEC and urged the national government, including the presidency, the National Assembly, and the Council of State, to address this matter as a pressing national security concern.

OYF emphasizes that the youth of Igboland will not allow their region’s elections to be compromised and will persist in their peaceful and lawful protests until INEC takes appropriate action.