Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday faulted the nomination of the immediate-past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commisson (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu for appointment as an ambassador, saying it raises serious concerns.
According to him, under no circumstance would he as President of Nigeria nominate Yakubu as INEC chairman.
Atiku in a statement posted on his Facebook page and obtained by Arise News in Abuja, said apart from presenting “terrible optics” for an administration already struggling with credibility, it sends the wrong message to the current INEC leadership under Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN), that partisan, compromised or poorly executed elections may ultimately be rewarded.
He said, “Let me state without ambiguity: under no circumstance would I, as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, nominate the immediate past INEC Chairman for an ambassadorial position. Such a nomination raises serious concerns.
“It risks appearing as a quid pro quo rather than a recognition of merit. It presents terrible optics for an administration already struggling with credibility.
“It sends the wrong message to the current INEC leadership; that partisan, compromised, or poorly executed elections may ultimately be rewarded. And most importantly, it is morally indefensible for an umpire at the centre of one of the most disputed elections in our history to become a beneficiary of its outcome.
“This is not the path to strengthening our democracy or restoring public trust in our institutions.”
Friday Olokor, Abuja
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