Ikimi, Edo PDP chairman criticise Zakari as Collation Officer

MORE criticisms have continued to trail the appointment of Alhaja Amina Zakari as the Chief Collation Officer by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the February presidential election.

At a well attended rally of the Edo Central senatorial district of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at Uromi, headquarters of Esan North East local government area of Edo state and the hometown of Chief Tony Anenih, the deceased Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi advised Mrs Zakari to voluntarily reject the offer.

Speaking in the same vein at the rally, the Edo state chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih said that it was morally reprehensible that, Mrs Zakari, a kinswoman of President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate is being selected for the onerous job.

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Like a forerunner, the wife of the former Vice President Abubakar Atiku and the presidential candidate of the PDP, Mrs Jennifer Atiku showed up at the campaign apparently to prepare ground for the husband who is scheduled to be in the state shortly.

Mrs. Atiku who arrived Benin Airport at 11.05 am in company of her close aides in a private plane marked N605 JA was received by Orbih and other top members of the PDP who followed her to the residence of the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion on a courtesy visit before heading to Uromi for the campaign stump.

Ikimia, former national chairman of the National Republican Convention (NRC) during the ill-fated Third Republic told the crowd that it was inappropriate for the electoral umpire to appoint relatives of a candidate to collate results of the presidential election which is to be keenly contested between Buhari and his main rival, former Vice President Abubakar Atiku of the PDP.

Orbih said that INEC does have a responsibility to conduct a free and fair election, adding that the opposition party will resist any attempt by the commission to rig the poll by working in league with the APC.

Ikimi said: “INEC has a responsibility to conduct a free and fair election. It must be above board. Mrs. Amina Zakari must disqualify herself.”

Orbih added: “INEC must listen to the voice of reason. It is clear that Nigerians say no to Mrs. Amina Zakari. Nigerians need a compassionate and experienced lol leader like Atiku and not Buhari who has pauperized the people ”

For former Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, Esan people should vote PDP, a party their son, Anenih laboured for till the very end.

Onolememen said: “Anenih will be very proud where ever he is if the PDP wins in all of Esan. That is the best way to remember the legacy of Anenih.”

Present at the campaign stump were the party governorship candidate in the 2016 election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a member of the House of Representatives, Ms Omorede Igbinedion (Ovia), Senator Odion Ugbesia, incumbent Senator Clifford Ordia (Esan Central) and other candidates from the district who were all given flags.