Don’t extend IG’s tenure, PDP tells Buhari

As the Nigeria Police Force begins the redeployment of key officers in preparation for the general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to extend the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Audu.
According to the opposition party, Buhari should allow Idris, who many believe to be controversial, to retire on January 15, which is his 60th birthday.
According to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, there is no genuine need to extend the tenure.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, Ologbodiyan said the police force had many officers capable of leading the NPF.
Ologbodiyan said, “One of the ways to demonstrate or show that he (President Buhari) is committed to free, fair and credible elections, is not to extend the tenure of the IG, who is due for retirement this month.
“He has said that he is committed to having transparent elections. He needs to tell Nigerians by his actions, and not merely with words of mouth.”
The All Progressives Congress has, however, countered PDP, saying extending the IG’s tenure was within Buhari’s power.
Saying the PDP was raising a false alarm, Keyamo said, “The highest statutory rank you can get as a policeman is commissioner. Every other rank is a political appointment. So, it is at the discretion of the President to appoint or not. Let the PDP wait till they get to power in many years from now before they dictate to the President on who to appoint.
“Nobody dictated to Obasanjo when he extended the tenure of the IG. These things are done sometimes for the purpose of convenience in terms of planning and arrangement because the ultimate desire of all of us is to have a peaceful election.”