Rep. Amobi Ogah Urges INEC to Probe Minister Nkiruka Onyejeocha Over Alleged Forgery in 2023 Elections

 

Photo: Credit to The Vanguard

House of Representatives member Amobi Ogah has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate Nkiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, over claims of election result forgery during the 2023 general elections.

In a letter dated April 14 and sent to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Ogah, who represents the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State, alleged that Onyejeocha presented fake polling unit results to the Election Petition Tribunal in an effort to overturn his victory.

Ogah said the minister submitted results from 63 polling units that appeared to carry INEC’s official stamp, but which the commission’s ICT Unit in Abuja later disowned.

He accused Onyejeocha of fabricating the documents to cast doubt on his win, stating that both of them had presented conflicting result sheets at the tribunal. Though the tribunal accepted both documents as certified, the Court of Appeal later ruled that the ones submitted by Onyejeocha were not genuine INEC records.

Ogah, who chairs the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Control, offered to provide INEC with certified copies of the tribunal’s records to support their investigation. He urged INEC to act quickly, warning that if it failed to take steps, he might seek a court order to compel them to investigate.

He also said he would take the matter to the public and involve other authorities if necessary. Calling for the prosecution of the minister, Ogah stressed that only a proper investigation could uphold the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.

He wrapped up by expressing confidence that INEC would take the necessary steps to ensure transparency and accountability.