The cat and mouse game between the Presidency and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued on Wednesday, this time over the appointment of Amina Zakari as Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday appointed Mrs Zakari as acting INEC chairman following the conclusion of the term of office of Prof. Attahiru Jega.
Speaking with journalists at a news conference in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the choice of Zakari was “nepotic” and did not follow due process.
Mr Metuh also criticised the delay in the formation of Federal Cabinet by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it shows that the party “lacks direction and focus on how to govern the country”.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, later countered Metuh, insisting Zakari’s appointment followed due process.
He also denied Metuh’s allegation that Buhari overruled Jega in appointing Zakari as acting chairman.
A statement by Mr Adesina sent to QED argued that Prof. Jega’s purported handing over to another Commissioner cannot be construed as an “appointment” because only the President has the constitutional authority, which he exercised to appoint Zakari.
“Contrary to Mr Metuh’s allegations, President Buhari’s appointment of Mrs Zakari as acting INEC chairman was based entirely on merit, her vast experience in the internal operations of INEC and the President’s commitment to affirmative action in support of gender equality, because, apart from being fully qualified for the position, Mrs Zakari was the only woman among the six Commissioners considered.
“Due Process was certainly followed in Mrs Zakari’s appointment. 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.
“The allegations are nothing but falsehoods contrived by Mr Metuh to unjustly denigrate a President popularly elected by Nigerians to undo the damage done to the nation by years of PDP rule.
“His claim that the PDP has rejected Mrs Zakari’s appointment is also laughable after he had admitted that the right and power of the President to make such appointments cannot be questioned,” Adesina said.
Jega’s tenure as INEC chairman came to an end on Tuesday, June 30.
The former INEC boss, who took over from Professor Maurice Iwu, assumed office on June 8, 2010 during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Jega officially handed over leadership to INEC’s National Commissioner, Ambassador Mohammad Wali, on Tuesday before the appointment of Zakari was later announced.
