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Controversy trails appointment of new INEC chairman, PDP, APGA accuse Buhari of base motives
By Ezugwu Obinna
The appointment of Hajia Amina Bala Zakari as the Acting Chairman of the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is currently generating condemnations from opposition parties and other political leaders in the country who view her appointment as a grand plot by the president to manipulate upcoming elections in favour of his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC)
The argument of those who oppose the appointment stems from the fact that the immediate past chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega had upon the completion of his tenure, handed over to one of INECs National Commissioners, Mohammed Wali only for Buhari to hurriedly replace him with Zakari whom they noted is a close ally of the president.
They argued that Buhari should have at least allowed Wali who was part of Jegas team to oversee the conduct of local government elections as well as other outstanding governorship elections in states like Edo, Bayelsa, Kogi and Ondo, arguing that the idea behind Zakari’s hurried appointment was to help manipulate the elections in favour of the ruling APC.
A chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance Robert Okechukwu Okoroji who reacted to Zakari’s appointment noted that Buhari’s decision points to the fact that unlike his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, he is not ready to allow INEC function independently.
Okoroji insisted that Wali had all the qualifications needed to head the commission at least until the remaining elections are conducted and doubted the motive behind the decision to bring Zakari whom he said has no experience on the job at this stage.
“You could see the difference between Buhari and his predecessor in terms of allowing agencies and institutions of government to run independent of the influence of the presidency. You could see the kind of freedom and autonomy that INEC enjoyed when Jega was there as chairman and under the presidency of Jonathan. The difference is that while Jonathan allowed Jega to function autonomously even against his own interest, Buhari is subtly interfering with the internal running of INEC.”
“Wali is competent in every sense of the word to conduct the next local government election which is not far away from now, but he replaced him in a bid to manipulate the election, and it’s obvious when you consider the speed with which he interfered with the process. There is nothing wrong with Wali, look at his profile, he has functioned in INEC for a long time and he has the experience. I don’t know where this woman is coming from and how much experience she has, she needs to begin to study the process. There an obvious difference between someone who has been within an institution for a period of time and someone coming from nowhere,” Okoroji stated.
He went to explain that Zakari’s appointment was informed on her affiliation with the presidency and advised Buhari to rescind the decision.
“Her appointment is based on the fact that he has an affiliation with the presidency which shows indeed that he has intention to interfere and influence the process in favour of his party and his own interest. It is unacceptable. INEC should be allowed to function independent of the presidency; that’s the only condition will ensure that the outcome of any election would be acceptable to Nigerians. I urge Buhari to rescind that decision, the brazenness is unacceptable.”
The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had also rejected Zakari’s appointment alleging that the Buhari plans to use her to compromise the Election Tribunals in favour of the APC.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh made the assertion while addressing journalists in Abuja recently. He opined that with her appointment, the public no longer have confidence and trust in INEC, suggesting that she was appointed because of her very strong relationship with the presidency and a governor from the North West who influenced the decision
“The PDP is particularly disturbed by the development in INEC where President Buhari, who knew all along that the immediate-past INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega would be leaving office by June 30, had to wait for him to handover to one of the national commissioners only to reverse it immediately, thereby injecting bad blood in the commission.”
“The situation in INEC since the PDP government reformed and granted it operational autonomy has been peaceful, but the untidy overruling of Prof. Jega and appointing of Mrs. Amina Zakari as acting chairman which, we gathered was influenced by personal relationship with the Presidency and one of the new governors of the North West, ostensibly to pave the way for the APC at the electoral tribunals, has completely eroded public trust in the commission,” Metuh stated
He further explained that although the party recognizes Buhari’s powers to appoint INEC chairman as well as the Accountant General of the Federation, it rejects any attempt to do so without being transparent and objective, and demanded that Zakari’s appointment be reversed.
“Whereas the PDP recognizes the right and powers of the President to appoint the Chairman of INEC and the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), we reject attempts as in the case of the AGF to paint the process as transparent and objective when such was not the case, but brought to question the sincerity and commitment of the present administration to due process.
“The PDP states in unequivocal terms that we cannot, as critical stakeholders fold our hands and watch while the Presidency perpetuates actions that diminish the independence of the electoral commission. The PDP has declared the appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari as unacceptable and demand that President Buhari changes her immediately.”
“Our reasons include the fact that due process was not observed in the appointment and that Mrs. Zakari has shown in the last elections that she is manifestly biasd in favour of the APC. Finally her appointment is a clear case of nepotism, he said.
Also reacting to the decision, the President of the Igbo Cultural society of Nigeria, Chief Udo Udeogaranya advised the PDP, APGA, Labour Party and other opposition parties to check zakaris profile properly and make their opinion known because they are the major stakeholders in that field.
He expressed satisfaction that the PDP has already made its position known and advised Buhari to listen to the opposition in the interest of democracy.
“My opinion is that the PDP, APGA, Labour Party and other substantial political parties to should go through Madam Zakari’s profile and make their opinion known because they are major stakeholders and important players.”
“I am glad that the PDP has taken a stand and I think in the spirit of fairness, President Buhari should listen to the voices of opposition parties, strike a balance and find someone that would be acceptable to all stakeholders. One thing about election is that once a party feels that the man at the centre is not going to give them a level playing field, then the election cannot be credible and it will demoralize them,” he noted.
Udeogaranya went on to express reservations with the conduct of the 2015 general elections, questioning the manner in which the permanent voter cards were distributed. As I speak, I don’t have my PVC, I tried several times but could not get it. But on the other hand, if you go to the North, the recorded up to 90 percent collection rate and you begin to wonder how considering also that millions of Igbo and other non indigenes left the region during the election.
The presidency has meanwhile refuted claims that Buhari’s decision to appoint Zakari was informed on her close relationship with him. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina who refuted the claims insisted that due process was followed in making the nomination.
“We have noted with regret, the latest tirade against President Muhammadu Buhari issued today by the PDP’s Spokesman, Mr Olisa Metuh,” he said.
“Mr Metuh’s spurious claims of her appointment having been influenced by ‘personal relationship with the Presidency’ and a Governor in the North-West ‘to pave the way for the APC’ at election tribunals should be disregarded by the public.