The Coalition of Progressive Political Parties has condemned The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for opposing Amina Zakari’s appointment as the acting INEC chairman.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday and signed by the Chairman of the group, Bashir Ibrahim, it decried what it described as “the dangerous precedent, whereby a political party is trying to decide for the country who becomes the INEC chairman.”
“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,” the statement said.
Ibrahim said that Zakari was not appointed to the commission by Buhari in 2015, but that she was appointed as INEC National Commissioner by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010. She was appointed acting INEC chairman for being the most senior INEC National Commissioner.
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