Gumus is a member of APC in Bayelsa State with Registration Form No: BAY/YEN/08/58315 and number 27 in her Ward Register.
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The 2023 election is already being rigged, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the appointment of Professor Rhoda Gumus, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress as commissioner in the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC).
President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Professor Gumus, an APC chieftain from Bayelsa State, into INEC, and the Senate confirmed her appointment.
The PDP, in a statement, said the action of the APC-led government in appointing a partisan person and the Senate confirmation of the appointment 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.”
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The PDP says such violent assault on the constitution and the electoral process by the APC led government cannot be allowed to stand.
The statement reads: “The media space is awash with reports of Prof. Gumus as a member of APC in Bayelsa State with APC Registration Form No: BAY/YEN/08/58315 and reportedly as number 27 in her APC Ward Register.
“In nominating and confirming an APC card-carrying member into INEC, President Buhari and the APC-led Senate leadership have recklessly violated the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)…
“This action is designed to corrupt and compromise the electoral Commission and pave way for the @OfficialAPCNg to rig the 2023 general elections.
“Nigerians can recall how President Buhari had earlier sought to impose his aide and card-carrying member of APC, Lauretta Onochie as INEC Commissioner but was stiffly resisted by Nigerians.
“The APC which thrives in impunity has again nominated and confirmed Prof. Gumus, another APC card-carrying member as National Commissioner in flagrant violation of the Constitution and total disregard for the Nigerian people.
“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.”
