13 opposition parties support Buhari on appointment of new INEC Chairman

A Coalition of Progressive Political Parties, (COP3), an umbrella organisation for 13 of the registered political parties in Nigeria, has declared its support for the appointment of Amina Zakari as Acting Chairman of INEC.

In a statement signed by Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim, Chairman COP3 in Abuja on Thursday, July 2, the group condemned what it described as 'the dangerous precedence whereby a political party is trying to decide for the country who becomes the INEC Chairman'.

It said: ''That is a function constitutionally reserved for the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Assembly.

''Any interference by political parties in the appointment of INEC officials is tantamount to politicising the process and the Commission itself.

''This is capable of creating dangerous schism in the Commission and generating unnecessary tension in the country.

''INEC is an independent election management body which must be insulated from politics and irresponsible politicking.

''Mrs Zakari was not appointed to the Commission by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 but was appointed as INEC National Commissioner by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010.

''By the time she was appointed Acting INEC Chairman, she had the distinction of being the most senior INEC National Commissioner in terms of time served.

''If she is good to be a National Commissioner of INEC and chairman of its Committees under President Jonathan, then she is good to be the Commission's Acting Chairman at any other time''.