Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the auspices of the PDP Governors’ Forum yesterday called for the review of the appointments of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They specifically listed for review the appointments of National and Resident Electoral Commissioners with a view to “weeding out corrupt and extremely partisan officials”.
In a statement last night, the PDPGF urged the Federal Government to refrain from appointing partisan individuals as INEC officials.
The statement, signed by its Director-General, CID Maduabum, reads,
“It’s such partisan method of appointment of these officials that led to national disgrace in Adamawa State.
“The PDP Governors Forum, under the leadership of Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal strongly condemns the show of shame in Adamawa State on the April 16 supplementary governorship election.
“The attempted electoral heist and brigandage perpetrated by the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari is perhaps the lowest point of the 2023 general elections.
“We commend the immediate steps taken by the INEC as an institution to recover its battered image by nullifying the attempted coup and suspending the REC.”
“The appropriate Returning Officer, Mele Lamido, should immediately conclude the collation and declare the results.
“One of the most important lessons of this election season is that the integrity of INEC personnel is crucial to free, fair, and credible elections as well as deployment of technology.
“Going forward, there should be a deliberate process of revisiting the appointments of National and Resident Electoral Commissioners to weed out corrupt and extremely partisan officials.
“Appropriate sanctions, including prosecution of all those involved, especially the former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari, should be swiftly commenced to serve as an example to others.
“We enjoin all Nigerians to be on the alert as we brace up to emerging threats to our democracy and the struggle for good governance in Nigeria”.