•Buba Galadima
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) chieftain, Buba Galadima, has warned that Nigeria risks sliding into civil war if the federal government goes ahead with an alleged plan to appoint a controversial retired Court of Appeal judge as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News yesterday, Galadima alleged that the administration was considering installing a recently retired judge with what he described as “a record of notoriety” to head the electoral body.
“Come November, there are rumours all over the place that this government is nominating a just-retired Court of Appeal judge who is known for notoriety to be the chairman of INEC. I wish it is not true. Because if that man becomes the chairman of INEC, be rest assured that this government is inviting a civil war in this country,” he said.
The NNPP stalwart accused the present administration of showing no regard for the rule of law, adding: “So you can see that this government has no respect for the rule of law. And we cannot be in a country where the government does not respect the law.”
He also extended his criticism to the current INEC leadership, alleging that it has already been compromised in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, “The INEC chairman has already rigged the election for APC. They brought somebody that is the secretary of the party that went to court for APC as acting national chairman, and he was rewarded with the chairman of INEC.”
Galadima argued that such moves threaten the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system and warned of dire consequences if the alleged plan materialises.
“If this man is appointed INEC chairman, then forget about elections in Nigeria. Because there would be no elections in this country, and it will create chaos,” he said.
Calling for vigilance among Nigerians, he declared: “We cannot allow somebody that has a record of notoriety to be imposed on us as INEC chairman.”
