The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was planning to use N-Power beneficiaries to help the All Progressives Congress (APC) win the 2019 general elections.
Imo Ugochinyere, CUPP spokesman, in a statement on Sunday, claimed that Amina Zakari, head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation centre, will be in charge of the recruitment.
CUPP said it was unfortunate that despite insistence by the APC government that the N-Power scheme was initiated to harness Nigeria’s young demography through appropriate skill development, provision of a structure for large scale work skills acquisition and development, Nigeria took over as the nation with the highest number of extremely poor people, with 87 million people in extreme poverty and growing by six people every minute.
The statement said: “The INEC Chairman should ensure the credibility which he promised Nigerians by making sure that no N-Power beneficiary is recruited as ad-hoc staff in the election, because it’s clear that these so called beneficiaries are going to be used by President Buhari and his APC cohorts to rig the elections.
“This administration has failed Nigerians time and time again, it’s clear to them they will loose the election in a free and fair fight so they are resolving to all manner of ploys to rig the elections, including their failed N-Power programme which has failed to lift Nigerians out of poverty.
“The opposition also received a very reliable information from a credible source that Buhari’s relative Amina Zakari will be in charge of the recruitment and training of the Ward/LGA/State Collation and returning officers.
“We have just been informed from a very reliable source that Amina Zakari will be in charge of the recruitment and training of the Ward/LGA/State Collation and returning officers. This is an obvious effort by Amina Zakari to influence and manipulate the conduct the 2019 elections.”
“The directive came as a shock to the Electoral Officers because they had started the process of recruiting the Adhoc staffs (collation and returning officers) in accordance with with well established practices.
“According to reliable sources, for the first time in the history of democracy of our Country, ward collation and returning officers will be recruited and trained in Abuja. This will be done by Amina Zakari who will then forward the names of her selected staff to the EOs at the State level.
“We call on the INEC chairman to quickly ensure that Zakari is stopped, also Nigerians, especially CSOs, political parties and all well meaning and decent people must be vigilant and constantly monitor this woman and her evil intentions not only for the forthcoming election but to the end of her ignominious tenure.”
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