The family of the controversial National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Amina Zakari, has reacted to the controversy trailing her new appointment as Head of Collation Centre for the 2019 presidential election.
Following her appointment by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, some political parties and stakeholders berated the Commission over alleged appointment of the President Muhammadu Buhari's niece to a sensitive position. They expressed fears that being a relative of the President, an interested party in the election, she could manipulate the collation process in his favour.
In a swift reaction to the growing controversies, the family of Amina Zakari debunked claims that Buhari and Zakari are related by blood. In a statement by the family’s spokesperson, Isah Zakari, it said the rumours were “blatant lies and a campaign of calumny orchestrated to pull her down.”
“We ordinarily will not join issues with any political party, newspaper or media organization because we will not want to constitute an impediment to the discharge of their constitutionally guaranteed responsibilities. It is, therefore, a very tough decision to react to the blatant lies told against our mother, daughter and sister, Mrs. Amina Zakari.
“We have taken this decision in firm belief that this clarification will put to rest the ceaseless campaign of calumny orchestrated to pull her down. Amina Zakari is a patriotic Nigeria who has served her country faithfully and honestly for years without blemish. We are therefore pained by the report that portrays Amina Zakari working to sabotage INEC’s firm determination to advance the democratic journey by creating a conducive atmosphere for citizens to exercise their voting rights.
“Contrary to the widespread belief, Amina Zakari is not a blood relation of President Muhammadu Buhari. Her mother was from Daura (born and bred in Kano) and she was not Buhari’s sister. It’s also true that Buhari’s sister was once married into the family. The union was short lived and did not produce a child. This all happened well before Mrs. Zakari was born.
“Furthermore, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, the veteran Kano politician who first made the claim that she was born by Buhari’s sister has since recanted. Those who have held on to the claim are therefore either unaware of his recantation or they are simply incapable of letting go their prejudices in the face of facts to the contrary.
“It is laughable that Mrs. Zakari who was appointed National Commissioner by former President Goodluck Jonathan under a PDP government can no longer perform any function in INEC because she is a supposed relation of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The pieces of information being sold to the press about Mrs. Amina Zakari by the PDP are absolutely false, tendentious, malicious and highly reprehensible.”
