The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the Senate’s confirmation of Prof. Rhoda Gumus as the National Commissioner (South-South) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

PDP alleged that the INEC Commissioner is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The main opposition party made the allegation in a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, a copy of which was made available to The Star on Monday.

PDP further alleged that the nomination of Prof. Gumus as INEC Commissioner by President Muhammadu Buhari was a plot by the APC to rig the 2023 general election, adding that the confirmation by the Senate violated the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

The party stated that the new INEC Commissioner is a member of the APC in Bayelsa State with APC Registration Form No: BAY/YEN/08/58315 and reportedly as number 27 in her APC Ward Register.

PDP said: “The PDP vehemently rejects the confirmation of a card-carrying member of the APC, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, as a National Commissioner (South-South) in the INEC despite widespread outcry by Nigerians

“The PDP describes Prof. Gumus’ confirmation as INEC National Commissioner by the APC-led Senate leadership as a “coup” against democracy and an open invitation to serious political crisis that can derail our hard-earned democracy and lead to breakdown of law and order if not immediately reversed.

“In confirming Prof. Gumus, the APC-led Senate leadership has exposed itself as anti-people and completely insensitive to the aspiration of Nigerians for credible and transparent elections in 2023.

“The action of the APC-led Senate is highly provocative and incendiary because it is in violation of Paragraph 14 (2)(a) of the 3rd Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which provides that ‘a member of the Commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity’.

“Such violent assault on the Constitution and our electoral process by the APC cannot be allowed to stand.

“The media space is awash with reports of Prof. Gumus as a member of the APC in Bayelsa State with APC Registration Form No: BAY/YEN/08/58315 and reportedly as number 27 in her APC Ward Register.”

The opposition party added: “In nominating and confirming an APC card-carrying member into INEC, President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC-led Senate leadership have recklessly violated the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which they swore to uphold and defend.

“This action is designed to corrupt and compromise the electoral commission and pave way for the APC to rig the 2023 general election.

“Nigerians can recall how President Buhari had earlier sought to impose his aide and card-carrying member of the APC, Lauretta Onochie as INEC Commissioner but was stiffly resisted by Nigerians.

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“The APC which thrives in impunity has again nominated and confirmed Prof. Gumus, another APC card-carrying member as National Commissioner in INEC in flagrant violation of the Constitution and total disregard for the Nigerian people.”

PDP further called on Buhari to withdraw the appointment of Prof. Gumus as INEC Commissioner, saying the move will give Nigerians the assurance that the President is committed to free, fair, transparent and credible election in 2023.

The party also urged Nigerians and Civil Society to continue to insist that the appointments into INEC must be transparent and in line with the provisions of the Constitution and other applicable laws.

Ologunagba further stated: “Prof. Gumus must not be allowed to be used to pollute INEC. Her mission is already exposed and our party is ready to mobilize our members and all patriotic Nigerians across the country by taking legitimate actions to protect the integrity of the electoral body.

“Our party therefore issues a stern caution to Prof. Gumus to, in the interest of peace, steer clear of INEC as there is no way she can function in that office as a card-carrying member of the APC.

“Democracy is about transparency of elections. Nigerians cannot believe in the integrity of the process with Prof. Gumus in INEC. Her entry and continuing stay in INEC will be toxic and taint the Commission with bias and manipulations ahead of the 2023 elections since her appointment and confirmation is unconstitutional.

“The PDP calls on President Buhari to immediately withdraw the appointment of Prof. Gumus as INEC National Commissioner in line with his oath of office to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This will assure Nigerians that Mr. President is committed to free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2023.

“The PDP salutes and commends the efforts of the Civil Society which continues to remain relentless in the fight for credible electoral process from appointment of officers of INEC, processes of election as well as the collation and declaration of election results.

“Our party urges the Civil Society and all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to insist that appointments into INEC must be transparent and in line with the provisions of the Constitution and other relevant laws.”

TheStar