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]