The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of plotting to install his successor in 2023.
The party said the president was perfecting this alleged plot by nominating his Special Assistant on Social Media, Ms. Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a Tuesday statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP described the nomination as “a highly provocative assault on our nation’s constitution and democratic process”.
According to the party, Onochie is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ward 5 Onicha Olona, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
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The party further described her nomination as being in clear violation of paragraph 14 of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which forbids a person involved in partisan politics to hold office as a member of INEC.
“Indeed, from Mr. President’s public promises, one would have thought that he was desirous of leaving a legacy of credible elections, having failed in all ramifications of governance.
“However, this nomination of his personal staff, Lauretta Onochie, as INEC national commissioner, supports the position of the PDP that his statements were mere glib talks on electoral sanctity and clearly demonstrates that he has no plans whatsoever to leave a legacy of credible polls.
“This ugly development is another shameful attempt to plant unscrupulous elements in INEC in order to corrupt and further desecrate the sanctity of the commission, undermine our electoral system and destabilise our democratic process ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“We had hoped that, as Mr. President had professed in the past, he is truly running his second and final term in office. If that were so, then Lauretta Onochie’s nomination as INEC national commissioner clearly points to a totally different direction.
“Indeed, her nomination dresses up Mr. President as having more than an interest in legacy building and portrays him as one who has a personal candidature interest in the 2023 election. The only way to prove otherwise is to quickly withdraw Onochie’s nomination before the Senate,” the statement read in part.
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PDP said that the president having sworn to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was taking actions that were antithetical to the very constitution and democratic governance.
“The party noted that these actions are deliberate attempts by President Buhari to inflame social tensions, undermine our constitution and desecrate the sanctity of our electoral process, rather than finding solutions to the myriads of problems pervading our country.