The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected the appointment of Amina Zakari, as Chairman of the Collation Centre Committee for 2019 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The party’s objection is based on the grounds that Zakari is a blood relation of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari.
It therefore called on INEC to immediately reverse Zakari’s appointment as the head of the centre for collation of results. Zakari is a National Commissioner of INEC.
The PDP’s position was disclosed by the Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, PPCO, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday in Abuja while addressing a news conference.
He said that the PPCO “outrightly and unequivocally rejects the appointment of Zakari for such position in the same election in which President Buhari is a candidate.
“With Amina Zakari at the head of results collation, there is no way votes cast by Nigerians will count.
“We, therefore, call on all Nigerians, and particularly, the National Peace Committee to note that with the appointment of Amina Zakari, as head the collation of Presidential results, the INEC Chairman is setting the stage for a very huge political crisis, which is capable of derailing our democratic process.
“We also urge the United Nations and other global democratic institutions to take copious note of this noxious appointment by the INEC Chairman.
“If the INEC Chairman wants a peaceful Presidential election, he should, with the speed of light, reverse himself on this appointment.’’
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Ologbondiyan while insisting that the PDP was committed to a peaceful and credible process, stressed that the party would never allow anybody to use any means to rig it out in the election.
“All we ask for is a free, fair, credible and transparent electoral process in which the votes of Nigerians will not only count but will be seen to have counted.
“Like Mr President said during his budget presentation at the National Assembly, the world is watching us,’’ he said.
He also alleged that the PDP governorship candidate in Kogi was being denied the use of Kogi Confluence Stadium for his campaign rally by the Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello and appealed to President Buhari to direct APC governors not to deny any candidate the use of their state facilities for campaign.
He recalled that Mr President was allowed the use of Akwa Ibom State Stadium for the APC zonal rally and that the state governor also worked for the peace of the event.
