TELL Magazine

…Accuses President of planning to rig 2023 election

As outrage continues to trail the appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari of Professor Rhoda Gumus, a known card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as a Commissioner in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, a former spokesman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Francis Iyasere has charged political parties in the country, especially the PDP, to go to court to challenge the appointment.

In an interaction with newsmen in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday, the former member South-South Executive of the party queried the rationale behind President Buhari’s appointment of a confirmed card-carrying member of the APC as an INEC Commissioner against constitutional provisions.

He urged political parties, civil society organisations, and all concerned Nigerians, to rise and challenge the action of the President, which he insisted negates the principles of democracy.

According to Iyasere, “Why has President Mohammadu Buhari not made the mistake of appointing a member of APGA or another party as an INEC Commissioner? Why has he consistently made the mistake of appointing APC members? He should tell us the reasons behind it if he is not planning to rig the 2023 general election.
“If Mr. President is ready to give us a credible election as he promised, the credibility of the process is very important and matters most. We want to hear him talk about why he has consistently appointed card-carrying members of his party (APC) to that very position”.
Further berating the president, Iyasere argued that “If the election that brought him into power was not credible, he wouldn’t have won the election” adding that “I am not sure he will sign the electoral amendment bill because they (APC) want to rig 2023 general election.”

He said “Nigerians have known that APC is a fraud, and are looking for an alternative. Why do they want to remain in power? We want to hear from him the basis for saying he is Mr. Integrity. Remember what happened before the 2019 election, whereby Justice Walter Onnoghen was removed. The other day, Mrs. Loretta Onochie, a card-carrying member of APC, was nominated as an INEC Commissioner. I want all the political parties, especially PDP, to rise and challenge Gumus’ appointment in court.”
In spite of widespread disapproval, the Senate on Wednesday February 2 confirmed her appointment. Gumus was said to have registered as a member of the APC March 27, 2021 as evidenced in her annexed APC membership card.

Click here to read more articles