The appointment of Mrs Amina Zakari as acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a reward for her highly partisan loyalty to the President Muhammadu Buhari presidential ambition while serving as INEC National Electoral Commissioner.
Zakari is a daughter of the Emir of Kazaure Alhaji Najib Adamu of Jigawa State who is a blood relation of the Buharis of Daura in Katsina State. A very reliable source in INEC told Nigerian Times that Zakari who is a proven blood relative of the President was Buhari’s eye in the commission and was always reporting the activities of the former INEC chairman, Prof. Atahiru Jega to the campaign organisation.
Nigerian Times also learnt that she was a staff of Afri Projects Consortium headed by Buhari’s late inlaw, Salihijo Ahmad between 1999 to 2001 as a Senior Consultant/Chief Pharmacist. The company was a major consultant to the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund when Buhari headed the organisation.
Recall that Buhari called for the sack Jega-led INEC accusing it of having developed “a very cozy relationship with Executive and Judicial arms of government that its impartiality is totally lost”. The source which pleaded anonymity said she was never a voice of moderation but that of partisanship in the commission.
Her appointment, Nigerian Times learnt was recommended by members of Buhari’s inner circle. They include Mohammed Hayatudeen, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Babagana Kingibe and Hamidu Ali. However, this group believed that Nigerians will accept her as a good choice since she is a woman but in essence her appointment is meant to protect the interests of the All Progressive Congress during post-election judicial processes, the source alleged.
PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh also corroborated the source when he said Wednesday during a press briefing that “Zakari as acting chairman which, we gathered was influenced by personal relationship with the Presidency and one of the new governors of the North West, ostensibly to pave the way for the APC at the electoral tribunals, has completely eroded public trust in the commission.”
Zakari who is a widow and mother of five superintended over the general elections in Kebbi State. She is from Jigawa state and holds a degree in pharmacy. She was appointed a National Commissioner of INEC in 2010. Source; Nigerian Times.
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It is not a new normal in Nigeria to appoint a relation to sensitive positions. Thats why Tinubu wants Gbajamila and not Dogara as Speaker of House of Representatives. Moreover - as a lady pharmacists (rare among northern women) - she has higher built-up humane capacity than equivalent males. She is qualified and has a right to be appointed to the position of INEC Ag Chairman. Upon 'those that impose, it shall be imposed' - so what is PDP complaining of, they invented imposition of acolytes. Chimdindu Osuagwu
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