PDP ‘to reject’ elections conducted under Zakari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it might not accept the outcome of any election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the leadership of Amina Zakari.

The party has been making repeated calls for her dismissal, citing alleged closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari as the reason for the demand.

Olisa Metuh, PDP’s spokesman, renewed the call for Zakari’s dismissal during a visit to the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute in Abuja on Thursday.

“We have INEC and the idea is that people heading it should be above board, but the present ruling party has appointed the daughter of the president to head the position,” he said.

“There is no where in the world where such has happened. It will be very difficult for us to accept any result of the election conducted by Amina Zakari.”

Metuh further accused the administration of Buhari of undemocratic acts, demanding that the United States calls him to order.

“We are worried about attempt by our government to harass and influence the detention of the senate’s deputy president, Ike Ekweremadu,’’ he said.

“The reason these issues are being raised now is that in less than one week, our president will be visiting USA. It will be necessary at this point for it to be stressed to him that he should observe the tenets of democracy in Nigeria.’’

Responding, Jasper Veen, resident country director of NDI, urged political parties to work towards strengthening the country’s internal democracy.

“If you get right parties internal democracy, other democratic issues will be addressed,” he said.