INEC Chair: Buhari defends choice of Zakari, disparages PDP

President Muhammadu Buhari has defended his choice of Amina Zakari as the acting chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after the opposition Peoples Democratic Party demanded a reversal of the appointment.

The PDP had said that the appointment smacked of nepotism and accused Mrs. Zakari of demonstrating bias towards the APC in the past.

The party also said due process was not followed in her appointment by Mr. Buhari.

A statement from the presidency Wednesday dismissed the allegations by the PDP.

Mr. Buhari said he had constitutional powers to choose the head of INEC, and that Mrs. Zakari’s appointment was based on merit and sensitivity to gender equality.

The statement, signed by spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said allegations by the PDP were “falsehoods contrived by Mr. Metuh (PDP spokesperson) to unjustly denigrate a President popularly elected by Nigerians to undo the damage done to the nation by years of PDP rule”.