…Urges Political Parties To Seek Legal Action
By John Ugo
The former Pubicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party in Edo State, Prince Francis Iyasere has urged political parties in the country, especially PDP, to approach the court to challenge the appointment of Prof. Rhoda Gumus as a commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Iyasere stated this on Thursday, during a press conference held in Benin the Edo state capital.
He urged political parties, Civil Society Organizations, and all concerned Nigerians to rise and challenge the action of the President, as it negates the principles of democracy.
The former member South-South executive queried the rationale behind President Mohuammdu Buhari’s appointment of a confirmed card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC) as an INEC Commissioner against constitutional provisions
He urged the President to give Nigerians a credible free and fair election which he said could only be possible with a credible process.
According to him “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 it 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.
“If the election that brought him into power was not credible, he wouldn’t have won the election. I am not sure he will sign the electoral amendment bill, because, they (APC) want to rig 2023 general election.”
“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. Intergrity. Remember what happened before the 2019 election, where 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.” He said.
Recall that Prof. Rhoda Gumus was appointed as an INEC Commissioner by President, and her appointment was ratified by the Senate on the 2nd of February, 2022, not minding the uproar her appointment has generated.
Prof Rhoda Gumus was said to have, registered as a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as evidenced in her annexed APC’s membership card on March 27, 2021
