Lagos – Mr Toyin Raheem, Secretary of Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights, an NGO, on Thursday advised the Acting INEC Chairman, Mrs Amina Zakari to make women proud in her new assignment.
Raheem spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, urging Zakari to build on the achievements and structures left behind by Prof Attahiru Jega who retired on June 30.
NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Zakari following Jega’s exit on Tuesday.
Her appointment was announced in a letter by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Mr Danladi Kifasi.
According to the letter, the appointment of Zakari, a National Commissioner at the Commission, is with effect from June 30, until the appointment of a substantive Chairman.
Raheem, reacting to the appointment, urged Zakari to show that what a man could do, a woman could do better.
“She should convince the world that what a man did, a woman can do better.
“She should not be partisan or tribalistic and or a tool in the hands of the present government or any politician; she must make the women and Nigerians proud,” he said.
Raheem also urged the acting INEC chairman to be transparent in her dealings.
Also, Mr Dennis Aghanya, the Director, Change Program and Global Transformation, an NGO, advised the INEC boss to ensure she achieved much for the commission.
“She should endeavour to achieve beyond Jega’s success as the task before her is enormous,’’ he said.
Aghanya urged her to understudy the election processes of other countries and find out the secret of their success.
The National Chairman of the People’s Progressive Party, Mr Damian Ogbonna, advised Zakari to commence the continuous voter registration and ensure people were able to register.
He also urged her to obey court judgments to reinstate recognition to all political parties.
“We expect her to obey court judgments to reinstate recognition to all parties they purportedly deregistered.
“She should commence continuous voter registration in reality and easy access to registrants,” Ogbonna said.
The Lagos State Chairman of ACCORD Party, Chief Gbenga Olatunde-Kool, said he did not believe Zakari, being a woman, would bring the desired and real change the people wanted in the country’s electoral process.(NAN)