Some INEC REC Nominees Participated In Open APC Activities – Melaye All3ges

Former lawmaker representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye has stated that some persons nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as Resident Electoral Commissioners are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

President Buhari had written to the Senate on July 26, asking the upper chamber to confirm 19 RECs for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking in Abuja during a citizens’ election dialogue on the theme, “What makes a good election in Nigeria,” Melaye accused the President of appointing people he described as partisan into the electoral body.

Melaye stated that this development has made his party – the Peoples Democratic Party – to be disenchanted.

The senator, who is also the spokesman of the PDP presidential campaign council, explained that the conduct of INEC can either make or mar the 2023 general elections.

“As a party, we made some complaints that some names mentioned as Resident Electoral Commissioners as nominated by Mr President are card-carrying members of the APC,” Melaye said, reiterating the PDP’s worry over the nomination.

“Some of them even participated in open APC activities as nominees for the REC for some states. That is the complaint of my party. If that is rectified, then we must quickly appoint REC because it will boost the confidence of the electorates and show the seriousness of the entire system for the 2023 general elections.”

The PDP chief reminded INEC that elections are a process and urged it to become more aware of its duties in front of the elections scheduled for next year.

He said that despite how important their roles might be during elections, Nigerians are concerned that of the 36 states, RECs have not been allocated to 19 states.

The former lawmaker also criticised the present administration for delaying the nominations’ assignment to their appropriate areas.