The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday expressed worry that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, may be compromised with the appointment of Hajia Amina Zakari as its acting Chairman.
Consequently, the PDP declared that it will be difficult for it to accept the result of any election conducted by INEC under her.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Chief Olisa Metuh stated this in Abuja when he visited two American agencies – the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI).
Metuh claimed that Zakari has “consanguinity” with President Buhari.
The PDP is not questioning the capability, qualification or the competence of the INEC acting chairman but her relationship with the President, Metuh added.
His words, “That is the areas we want the international community to intervene. He is showing that he is president of only his political parties. He has shown his preference in travelling with only members of his party.
“We want the international community to help him realise and practise democratic tenets,” he stressed.
The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, who said that democracy in the country is on trial, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the presidency of intimidation and harassment of PDP officials and elected leaders.
According to him, “Democracy is on trial in Nigeria. The APC is engaging in campaign of calumny and witch-hunting of PDP leaders.
“Government is influencing security agencies to frame elected leaders. We want President Buhari to be fair and father to all Nigerians irrespective of political parties”, he said.
Metuh alleged that the Deputy President of Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was being intimidated and witch-haunted to get him out of office at all cost.
He further alleged that the ruling party was using the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to interfere in election matters.
Metuh explained that the purpose of the visit was to alert the international communities of issues capable of truncating democracy in Nigeria.
The NDI Resident Country Director, Jasper Veen and his IRI counterpart, Sentell Barnes who received the PDP spokesperson, stressed the need for strengthening of democratic institutions in the country.
They advised political parties in the country to work for internal party democracy and the independence of agencies that will deliver credible elections in the country.
According to Veen, “The quality of democratic process is the reflection of internal party democracy. This is because internal party democracy is the greatest weakness to political parties in Nigeria”.
He further called for the parties to adhere to the provisions of the constitutions, which will help them overcome some of their challenges.
Veen similarly pushed for constructive relationship between political parties and civil societies and for training of journalists, which can help improve objective reporting. – Daily Times.
