Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) Tuesday dismissed the declare by some opposition political events that President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are behind management crises bedeviling them barely 9 months to 2027 normal elections.
Kalu, who chairs the Senate Committee on South East Growth Fee (SSEDC), debunked the notion whereas fielding questions from journalists on the state of the nation to mark his 66th birthday.
“Claims being made by some opposition political events on alleged interference within the workings of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) by President Bola Tinubu or our nice occasion , the All Progressives Congress, are to me, frivolous and dangerous to Nigeria’s democratic picture,” he mentioned.
He mentioned APC has no management over INEC, including that the electoral umpire, beneath the management of Professor Joash Amupitan, operates independently.
“The APC as a celebration has nothing to do with INEC. INEC is an impartial physique and we’ve a number of respect for the chairman of INEC.
“He’s an erudite Professor of Legislation, so, allow us to cease this frivolity. Individuals ought to take the electoral course of and democracy critically as an alternative of de-marketing the nation,” he mentioned.
He additionally dismissed the insinuations that the ruling occasion is coercing politicians, notably governors, to defect into its fold, stating that occasion membership stays a matter of non-public selection and negotiation.
“President Tinubu has by no means pressured anybody to affix the APC or begged anyone to go away his or her personal occasion for APC.
“So, if a governor decides to affix APC, that’s his enterprise. Once you come, we negotiate, whether it is good, you keep, if not, you go your manner. No person is forcing anyone,” he mentioned.