Election: Criticisms trail appointment of Buhar’s relative as presidential collation panel Chairman
Criticisms are trailing the appointment of Amina Zakari as chairman of the Advisory Committee and Presidential Election Collation Centre Committee by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Reacting the to the appointment on Thursday, the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) said Mrs. Zakari, being a blood relation of President Muhammadu Buhari, cannot be trusted to head such a sensitive position in the operation line of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, PDPPCO spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan described the appointment as “another heinous machination” by President Buhari and the INEC to rig the February 16 presidential election and subvert the will of the people.
He alleged that the choice of Zakari was meant to skew the electoral process in favour of President Buhari.
But INEC said the PDPPCO got its information wrong as Mrs. Zakari had not been given any role to head the commission’s Presidential Election Collation Centre.
The body, reacting to the PDP’s claim, said: “This information is false. She is in charge of setting up the Situation Room and National Collation Center for the upcoming elections. This includes, creating a conducive environment for national and international election observers, INEC staff and CSO’s for the duration of election activities.
On his part, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose frowned at the appointment. He said this in a series of tweets.
Fayose said: “Instead of INEC appointing, Amina Zakari, a blood relation (niece) of President Buhari, as the Chairperson of INEC Advisory Committee and Presidential election Collation Center Committee, why not just appoint one of the President’s children as INEC Chairman? He asked.
“The same @inecnigeria that is promising free and fair election turning around to appoint a known blood relation of President Buhari, a candidate in the election as head of its Collation Committee? Why are these people so brazen in their plot to impose themselves on Nigerians?”
The Sun
