… describes action as ‘coup against democracy’
The Peoples Democratic Party has kicked against the confirmation of a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, as a National Commissioner (South South) in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The PDP said Gumus’ confirmation as INEC National Commissioner by the APC-led Senate leadership was a “coup” against Democracy and an open invitation to political crisis and chaos.
The main opposition party warned that such an ugly development could derail Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy and result in a breakdown of law and order, if not immediately reversed.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
According to the statement, “In confirming Prof. Gumus, the APC-led Senate leadership had exposed itself as anti-people and completely insensitive to the aspiration of Nigerians for credible and transparent elections in 2023.
“The action of the APC-led Senate is highly provocative and incendiary because it is in violation of Paragraph 14 (2)(a) of the 3rd Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which provides that “a member of the Commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.
“Such a violent assault on the Constitution and our electoral process by the APC cannot be allowed to stand.
“The media space is awash with reports of Prof. Gumus as a member of the APC in Bayelsa State with APC Registration Form No: BAY/YEN/08/58315 and reportedly as number 27 in her APC Ward Register.
“In nominating and confirming an APC card-carrying member into INEC, President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC-led Senate leadership have recklessly violated the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which they swore to uphold and defend.
“This action is designed to corrupt and compromise the electoral Commission and pave way for the APC to rig the 2023 general elections.”
The PDP spokesman recalled that the President’s earlier attempt to impose his aide and card-carrying member of the APC, Lauretta Onochie, as INEC Commissioner was vehemently resisted by Nigerians.
He vowed that the PDP would mobilise Nigerians to take all legitimate steps to prevent Gumus from being appointed into such sensitive position.
The statement added, “The APC, which thrives in impunity, has again nominated and confirmed Prof. Gumus, another APC card-carrying member as National Commissioner in INEC in flagrant violation of the Constitution and total disregard for the Nigerian people.
“Prof. Gumus must not be allowed to be used to pollute INEC. Her mission is already exposed and our Party is ready to mobilise our members and all patriotic Nigerians across the country by taking legitimate actions to protect the integrity of the electoral body.
“Our Party therefore issues a stern caution to Prof. Gumus to, in the interest of peace, steer clear of INEC as there is no way she can function in that office as a card-carrying member of the APC.
“Democracy is about transparency of elections. Nigerians cannot believe in the integrity of the process with Prof. Gumus in INEC. Her entry and continuing stay in INEC will be toxic and taint the Commission with bias and manipulations ahead of the 2023 elections since her appointment and confirmation is unconstitutional.”
The PDP, therefore, advised President Buhari to immediately withdraw Gumus’ appointment as INEC National Commissioner in line with his oath of office to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The party said that it’s when the President rescinds his decision that Nigerians would be assured that the current administration is committed to free, fair, transparent and credible conduct of elections in 2023.
It also commended the efforts of the Civil Society, which continues to remain relentless in the fight for credible electoral process from appointment of officers of INEC, processes of election as well as the collation and declaration of election results.
PDP also called on the Civil Society and all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to insist that appointments into INEC must be transparent and in line with the provisions of the Constitution and other relevant laws.