Gender dynamics at INEC

Before her appointment, Mrs. Amina Zakari was also a Commissioner at INEC. The first objection to her appointment came from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which in its unfamiliar and uncomfortable position as the opposition party has made its adversarial role a major preoccupation. PDP has adopted a Pull Him Down (PHD) syndrome by rejecting […]

Before her appointment, Mrs. Amina Zakari was also a Commissioner at INEC. The first objection to her appointment came from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which in its unfamiliar and uncomfortable position as the opposition party has made its adversarial role a major preoccupation. PDP has adopted a Pull Him Down (PHD) syndrome by rejecting any policy initiative undertaken by the APC led government of President Buhari. The reason given for rejecting Mrs Amina Zakari’s appointment was the allegation that she was an APC sympathiser.
The PDP’s claim was promptly debunked by a group of civil society organizations working in good governance, advocacy and gender mainstreaming. The group said negative comments and opposition to Amina Zakari’s appointment was nothing but anti gender politics at play.
At a press conference organized on July 7 2015 in Abuja, decried the hue and cry over what it described as a “well-deserved appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari”. The group, comprises: Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Women Aids Collective (WACOL), State of the Union (SOTU), Accountability for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Nigeria (AMHiN), Advocacy Nigeria, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), Women In Nigeria, Women Advocates’ Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF-Nigeria) and the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigerian (FOMWAN). Others are the Centre for Democracy and Development, Partners on Electoral Reform, and Centre for Information Technology And Development (CITAD),
The group said, ‘Mrs Amina Zakari has been a serving commissioner with the INEC and has shared in the successes of the Prof. Jega led administration which is marked by transparency, fairness and free electoral process. She has also distinguished herself as one of the six (6) commissioners identified for the proposed position of chairman/chairperson of INEC.’
Members of the group noted that the ‘appointment of Mrs. Zakari was viewed as nepotism but as gender activists, we believe that judging by Mrs Zakari’s antecedence, she was appointed based on merit. She was part of the team that successfully conducted two general elections in 2011 and 2015. Therefore the appointment of a woman to head this great institution that has done Nigeria proud with two elections conducted since 2011 to 2015 is not only unprecedented but shows sensitivity to gender equality.”  It is noteworthy that the integrity of the Acting Chairperson has not been questioned which should be the major consideration in the appointment for the position given the delicate and politically sensitive role of INEC.’ Members therefore applauded the President for taking the first step towards fulfilling his electoral promise to empower Nigerian women.
Another group of ten women non-governmental organisations also  endorsed the appointment of Mrs Amina Bala Zakari in a statement jointly signed by Women in Politics Forum (WIPF), Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI), Women Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), 100 Women Lobby Group. Others are Equity Advocates, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARD-C), Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN) and Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF). The Women’s groups said the appointment was in line with the national gender policy and the procedure for appointment in INEC. They cited Mrs Zakari’s impeccable record that has not been faulted by any group, including the opposition party. They hailed the appointment as a mark of commitment to affirmative action to which most governments have only paid lip service for decades. The groups argued that the inclusion of women in election administration would augment efforts to increase women’s voices and participation in the electoral process. The group therefore, called for gender inclusion in governance to complement the President’s effort at improving social development and fulfilling his campaign promises. 
However there were some sceptics from the women’s movement who expressed reservations with the development. Lawyer and advocate Carol Ajie from the United States is one of them.  She joined us in hailing the appointment of a widow and workaholic Mrs Amina Zakari as acting Chair INEC, but cautioned  ‘’don’t let Mr. President fool you on implementation of the national gender policy. I say this with the greatest respect. As you must know Amina Zakari is being used as a gender pawn in the political chess game of Mr. President. Why is it that when President Buhari was nominating Mrs. Zakari as a replacement, he did not deem it necessary to also nominate other National Commissioners?’
As supporters of gender mainstream, our response is whether or not she is being used as a gender pawn is the least of our concern. Amina Zakari’s appointment is a feather in the cap of advocates for good governance and gender equity. We expect the appointment of more capable women in line with the country’s gender policy and wish Mrs Zakari a successful tenure.