Coalition of Progressive Political Parties, COP3, the umbrella organisation for thirteen registered political parties in Nigeria, has condemned what it calls “the dangerous, irresponsible and inciting statement issued by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the appointment of Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
The appointment early this week of one of INEC’s National Commissioners, Mrs. Amina Zakari, by President Muhammadu Buhari as Acting Chairman of the Commission has drawn opprobrium from Chief Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP.
In a statement issued in Abuja today and signed by the Chairman of the Coalition and National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Mallam Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, the COP3 decried what it described as “the dangerous precedent being set by a political party which tried to decide for the country who becomes the INEC Chairman” a function which, it said, is constitutionally reserved for the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Assembly.
In a reference to the statement made in Abuja on Wednesday by Chief Olisa Metuh, rejecting the appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari, the Coalition warned that any interference by political parties in the appointment of INEC officials would be tantamount to politicising the process and the Commission itself, adding that this is capable of creating dangerous schism in the Commission and generating unnecessary tension in the country.
“INEC is an independent election management body which must be insulated from politics and irresponsible politicking. The power of and procedure for the appointment of the Chairman of INEC is a constitutional matter and not subject of bargaining by political parties, especially those who are yet to come to terms with the fact that Nigeria is on a very strong change trajectory. INEC is also a regulator of political parties. It is an anomaly for the parties which the Commission is supposed to regulate to dictate who becomes the Commission’s chairman. Obviously, for some parties, it is still midnight.
“Mrs. Zakari was not appointed to the Commission by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. She was appointed as INEC National Commissioner by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 and by the time she was appointed Acting INEC Chairman, she had the distinction of being the most senior INEC National Commissioner in terms of time served. She is well educated and had served the Commission as Chairman of a number of its committees, including the sensitive Election and Political Party Monitoring Committee during President Jonathan’s administration. If she is good to be a National Commissioner of INEC and chairman of its Committees under President Jonathan, then she is good to be the Commission’s Acting Chairman at any other time.
“PDP is fully aware that this is not the first time a transition is taking place in INEC. As recent as 2010 when the tenure of former INEC Chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu expired, he handed over the Commission to INEC National Commissioner Philip Umeadi before late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua decided to appoint Commissioner Solomon Soyebi as Acting Chairman. The Coalition warned PDP and what it calls its “overzealous spokesman” to stay clear of INEC and desist from any design to create schism in the Commission in the name of opposition politics.
“Opposition politics must be responsible politics. After suffering for sixteen interrupted years under its institutional mismanagement, Nigerians deserve a respite from PDP’s meddlesomeness and brinkmanship” the statement said. “PDP’s acidic and divisive politics has been rejected by Nigerians in the last general election” the statement continued. “We advise that they try some modesty and learn from their past mistakes instead of trying to give Nigerians more of the same.” [myad]

Ahead of the meeting ot the National Executive Council (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) former Vice President and chieftain of the party, Atiku Abubakar has warned leaders against extremism.
He made it clear that in the interest of the growth of democracy and the party, the new administration and the country at large, APC needs to shift from extreme positions to a centrist one.
A statement from his media office in Abuja today, quoted the former Vice President as calling for the concentration of positive energies on building unity, cohesion and harmony among party leaders and other stakeholders.
“We can resolve our differences when our leaders individually and collectively shift ground from extreme positions and move to the centre in the interest of our party and our country.”
Atiku, who is unavoidably outside the country to perform Lesser Hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia, said that he is deeply concerned that, soon after capturing power, the APC was torn apart at a time more energy were needed to attend to the objectives of the change agenda for which it was voted into power.
The former Vice President said it was high time the party overcame its current crisis of confidence arising from the National Assembly election of principal officers.
He explained that the current blame games targeted at individuals is an unnecessary diversion of energies at the expense of the urgency of the mission of the party to make life better for Nigerians.
According to the former Vice President, the vilification of individual party leaders and members in the face of challenges facing the country is painful to him, adding that the party should learn the lessons and move ahead.
Atiku restated his commitment to the party and its change agenda, even as he advised the party leaders not to allow people of bad faith to fuel division and acrimony among them.
He said that all positive energies should be directed towards sustaining the morale of the voters who look forward to the APC to make their lives better.
He reminded party leaders that any division could be exploited at the expense of the party.
He extended his goodwill to the party for successful deliberations and assured the party of continued support and loyalty at all times. [myad]

The Nigeria Presidency has described the claim that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari’s appointment as acting chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as laughable.
It said that PDP contradicted itself by admitting that the right  and power of the President to appoint INEC chairman could not be questioned only to turn around to reject it.
A statement today, from the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said: “we have noted with regret, the latest tirade against President Muhammadu Buhari issued today by the PDP’s Spokesman, Mr. Olisa Metuh.
“Other than boring reporters at his press conference with a rehash of baseless allegations of inaction against the President, Mr Metuh clearly had nothing new to say apart from his charge of nepotism and partisanship  in the appointment of the Acting INEC Chairman, which also lacks any factual foundation.”
Adesina made it clear that President Buhari did not “overrule” Professor Attahiru Jega in appointing Mrs. Amina Zakari as the Acting INEC Chairman, as Mr Metuh alleged.
“Professor 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 Mrs. Zakari as  acting Chairman of INEC.”
The Presidential spokesman said that contrary to Metuh’s allegations, President Buhari’s appointment of Mrs. Zakari as Acting INEC Chariman 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.”
He argued therefore the due Process was followed in Mrs. Zakari’s appointment, adding that Metuh’s spurious claims of her appointment being 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.
According to Adesina, 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. [mayd]