APC Indifferent, PDP Silent, PPN Fumes As Buhari Reappoints Yakubu As INEC Chairman
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said it is not perturbed about the nomination of Professor Mahmood Yakubu for second term as the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission for another 5-year Term
Speaking exclusively with our Correspondent, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena said the party views nomination of Prof Yakubu as a national issue which is not about any political party.
“Judging by the outcome of the last two elections, PDP won in Edo, APC won in Ondo, so we don’t have problem with whoever becomes the INEC Chairman. APC is a progressive party unlike PDP who appointed someone like Professor (Maurice) Iwu do do its bidding,” Nabena said.
However, repeated calls to the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were not answered while text message also received no response was also not responded to. However, a Chieftain of PDP who pleaded anonymity said PDP will not respond to such important decision until Stakeholders meet and then have reach consensus on what to say.
“The party don’t respond like that, we still need to consult before we give you response, perhaps tomorrow or day after, we should be ready with our response to the nomination,” he said.
In his reaction, the National Chairman of the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, Hon. Razak Eyiowuawi said the INEC Chairman is not worthy to be considered for second term because he has no respect for the rule of law.
“ That It is sad to this happening though we are not surprised. How can someone who had shown disdain to rulings of courts including appeal court ruling be made to head a democratic institution. This government of Buhari is hell bent on destroying all tenets of democracy. A man who studied terrorism can only be good for the Sambisa forest,” he said.
On what the party intends to do, he said, “We will mobilize the youths of this nation come 2023 and prevent the rigging machinery they are consciously compiling. With or without Mahmood Yakubu their evil machinations would not materialize as we will mobilize the whole nation against them. We will not stand aloof while they completely destroy our dear nation. As they have never contributed anything meaningful to her growth or development” he added.
NewsDirect reports that President Muhammadu’s nomination of Prof Mahmoud Yakubu for another 5-year term as INEC Chairman has put to an end speculations about the fate of Prof Yakubu whose tenure is expected to end on November 9, this year.
The appointment of the chairman of INEC and commissioners entails nomination by the president, ratification by the Council of State and confirmation by the Senate.
With this development, Yakubu is the first INEC chairman to have a second term in the history of the electoral commission.
Recall that the first appointment of Yakubu, a professor of Political History and International Studies, was ratified after the president’s nomination during an emergency Council of State meeting held on October 21, 2015.
