IPAC asks INEC to remove Amina Zakari as result collation panel chair

Registered political parties under the aegis of the Inter-Party Advisory Council have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately rescind the appointment of Amina Zakari as the chairperson of the Committee on National Collation Centre.

IPAC is the body officially recognised by INEC to speak on behalf of all political parties in the country.

Four political parties including the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Grand Alliance had on Thursday asked the electoral umpire to remove Zakari who is believed to be a blood relation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking with our correspondent on Friday, the President of IPAC, Mr. Peter Ameh, asked INEC to remove Zakari for the sake of transparency and fairness.

Ameh said with less than 45 days to the general elections, the commission would do well by avoiding such needless controversies, adding that he had received over 26 calls from party chairmen.

He said Zakari, who is a National Commissioner, is very much qualified to handle the job since having acted as the chairman of INEC in the past.

The IPAC President, however, said the elections must not only be fair but must be seen to be fair by all political parties and Zakari’s position would continue to cast doubts over the polls.

Ameh said, “If it is about qualifications, Amina is qualified but the issue is that when you want a credible election, it is not just for the elections to be transparent but for people to believe and see that it is transparent.

“Election is not a blind trust. You cannot just tell someone to trust you. It must be seen to be transparent. The entire process of elections before, during and after the polls must be based on mutual trust.

“INEC must get the trust of all parties and make sure the process is seen to be transparent. I have received over 26 calls from party chairmen in the last 24 hours. So, if I have that, I am sure the INEC chairman has received more. If there are other national commissioners available, let INEC appoint one of them.”

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