The REC, Prof Sylvia Agu, three heads of department, and 27 electoral officers were scheduled to depart from Owerri for the Holy Land, with formal send-off activities held at the Government House Chapel.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has come under intense scrutiny after reportedly sponsoring a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and 27 electoral officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.
The governor's action has triggered widespread concern about the independence of Nigeria’s electoral umpire and democratic processes.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that the pilgrimage was being facilitated with support from the Imo State government.
The REC, Prof Sylvia Agu, three heads of department, and 27 electoral officers were scheduled to depart from Owerri for the Holy Land, with formal send-off activities held at the Government House Chapel.
The development has ignited controversy because INEC is legally mandated to operate independently of political influence.
Critics argue that a sitting governor paying for foreign travel for senior electoral officials could undermine public confidence in the neutrality of the electoral body, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election cycle.
Casmir Nweze, a public affairs commentator in a reaction from Owerri, Imo State, called for sanctions for the INEC officials allegedly compromised by Governor Uzodimma.
Nweze said, "By reportedly sending these officials to Jerusalem just as the 2027 election cycle begins to loom, Uzodinma has abandoned even the pretense of subtlety. The gloves are off now. He is signalling to the world that he intends to buy the next election the same way he has bought every other political favour during his disastrous tenure as Governor.
"This latest charade is the act of a man who wants to perpetuate himself as a godfather in Imo State, knows he cannot influence a free and fair contest, and must instead rely on unethical alliances to have a chance to maintain his grip on power.
"Even more terrifying is how Uzodinma has weaponised insecurity. While the state teeters on the brink of chaos, he permits the barbaric practices at the police Tiger Base Owerri to continue unchecked. He uses the fear of state-sponsored violence to suppress dissent.
"All the INEC officials involved in this grotesque shitshow should bow their heads in shame. The officials have been compromised and need to go. It is time for Mr. President to call Uzodinma to order before he throws Imo State into a level of chaos from which it may never recover."
Governor Uzodinma, who has held the Imo State governorship since 2020, rose to office under contentious circumstances following a 2019 Supreme Court judgment that overturned the original election results.
His ascension earned him the label of the “Supreme Court Governor” in political commentary circles — a reference to the judicial route by which he assumed power.
Critics have also pointed to past elections in the state, particularly the state House of Assembly polls, where the ruling party reportedly won all 27 local government areas.