Immediate past Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government was mounting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu to ensure that APC fields candidates in Zamfara State.
The former governor said Mrs. Amina Zakari was already being positioned to replace Prof Mahmood should he refused to “play ball on Zamfara.”
Speaking through his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, in a release issued on Saturday evening, Fayose said; “It is now getting clearer that APC desperation to have candidates in Zamfara State is one of the main reasons for the postponement.”
He said Nigerians should not forget the letter written to INEC by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, directing the commission to postpone elections in Zamfara State so as to allow APC to field candidates.
Fayose said; “Since Prof Mahmood has made it clear that the election coming up next Saturday, is not a fresh process and there will be no campaign, bringing in candidates that were not part of the election that should have held today will also negate the position of INEC.
“Putting pressure on the INEC Chairman and threatening him with sack just to force the commission to accept APC candidates for Zamfara State is evil and unacceptable.”
The former governor said rather than blame the INEC Chairman, President Buhari’s should be blamed for deliberately orchestrating the elections postponement, adding that “INEC don’t control the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Aviation agencies as well as security apparatus in Nigeria.
“If there is anyone to be blamed for this dying minutes postponement, it should be the President and if anyone needs to resign, it should be President Buhari.”