Amina Zakari’s appointment not an issue, she won’t be removed –INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described as needless controversies, reactions trailing the appointment of Amina Zakari as head of the collation centre committee for the 2019 general election.

The commission said regardless of the kicks against the appointment from different quarters, it was not considering removing Mrs. Zakari, said to be a niece to President Muhammadu Buhari from the post.

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some other Nigerians have continued to kick against the appointment, alleging that it was plot by President Muhammadu Buhari and INEC to rig the coming general elections.

But denying the claims, INEC explained that heading the committee does not mean Zakari will be involved in the collation of results.

INEC director of voter education and publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, who stated this on Friday during a Channels TV programme, said the committee in question is “basically in charge of the physical structure.”

Explaining that “the chairman of INEC by virture of the electoral act is the returning officer of the country for the presidential election,” Osaze-Uzzi said, “It is he (Yakubu), who decides the validity of votes and any issues in the election.”

READ ALSO: AMINA ZAKARI: Ezekwesili fumes, warns of grave consequence

He went further to say that the committee is primarily “in charge of welfare,” adding that Zakari “was also very involved in negotiating with the ICC management in 2015 for the use of the facility so her duty is to ensure the facility is ready. She has no role whatsoever with the process of collation.”

When asked if INEC may removed Zakari from the new appointment following public outcry, Osaze-Uzzi said, “Removing her as the chairman of the committee to prepare the facility? That’s not an issue. It’s a needless controversy; not an issue at all.”

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