INEC Commissioner Gumus denies APC membership, threatens legal action

Newly-confirmed National Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), South-South, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, has denied membership of any political party including the All Progressives Congress (APC).

She has, therefore, called on a rights group, Concerned Nigerians Group (CNC), and two other online news platforms to retract an alleged libelous publication which claimed that she was a card-carrying member of the APC.

A publication by the rights group, published by two online news platforms, alleged that Prof. Gumus, who was nominated as a National Commissioner by President Muhammadu Buhari, was a card-carrying member of the APC.

President Buhari had written to the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of some national commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioner for INEC.

Among the nominees was Prof. Rhoda Gumus, who was the Dean of the School of Engineering at the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Ammassoma, Bayelsa State.

A letter by her lawyers, Adams Fasingha and Co., said the publication had caused the professor an embarrassment and eroded her dignity in the society.

The letter signed by the Managing Solicitor, Adams Fasingha, reads in part: “That our client is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa State.

“That our client is non-partisan and does not belong to any known political party in Nigeria, including the All Progressive Congress (APC).

“That because of the academic track records of our client, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, nominated her as commissioner for INEC sometime in December, 2021 and forwarded same to the National Assembly for confirmation. (The Nation)