2019: Replace Amina Zakari for peaceful elections, stakeholders tell Buhari, INEC

IN Anambra State, reactions have continued to trail the recent appointment of Amina Zakari, who they said is a niece to President Mohammadu Buhari, as the New head of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Presidential election collation officer for the 2019 presidential election.

One of the stakeholders and a former Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Anambra State Chapter, Chief Chris Eluemuno, who spoke to our correspondent in a telephone interview in Awka, the Anambra state Capital, described the appointment as incorrect and undemocratic on the side of INEC and President Mohammadu Buhari.

According to him, the appointment of Amina Zakari is a normal administrative posting, but INEC should not have appointed anybody related to the candidate who is contesting for an elective position at this critical period of hate speeches.

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He said that “if truly INEC wants a free, fair and credible election in Nigeria, the woman in the debate should be replaced as soon as possible for the interest of peaceful election”.

He added that if INEC and President Buhari fail to replace Amina Zakari before February 16 presidential election, it shows that the election would be rigged.

Also speaking on the development, a chieftain of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra state, Chief Okoye Kenneth, said the appointment is an indication that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and its Presidential flag bearer, President Mohammadu Buhari, are afraid of losing not only the presidential election but the entire polls.

I am surprised that Buhari, who has been championing free and fair election both home and abroad would allow INEC to appoint his sister, which he knows very well that Nigerians in their numbers will not accept that.

He urged the People Democratic Party (PDP) not to fold their arms and watch APC ruin the democracy the party has built successfully for good 16 years.

So my conclusion in the forthcoming general election is that if an urgent step is not taken or an urgent move is not made, Nigerians would not witness a free, fair and credible election as projected by the electoral body.