Hope rising for INEC staff as 4 Directors rose to become Resident Electoral Commissioners

… We will hold every REC accountable for their actions and inactions- Prof Yakubu 

Oru Leonard 

The atmosphere at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was frenzy as the Chairman of thr Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has sworn in nine new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), who were recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu and cleared by the National Assembly. Among those who were sworn in include four INEC Directors who were elevated.

Those sworn in on Tuesday 12th December 2023, during a regular meeting of the Commission with RECs were Abubakar Dambo Sarkin Pawa; Abubakar Ma’aji Ahmed; Dr. Anugbum Onuoha; Ehimeakhe Shaka Isah; Mal. Aminu Idris; Mohammed Sadiq Abubakar; Mrs Oluwatoyin O. Babalola; Olubunmi O. Omoseyindemi; and Shehu L. Wahab.

Prof. Yakubu, however, noted that the 10th REC designate from Akwa Ibom State, Etekamba Umoren will be sworn in by January, 2024 when the tenure of the current serving REC from his State Delta will expire.

Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony, the INEC Chairman congratulated the new RECs, and charged them to be firm in ensuring fairness and transparency to all, adding that from now on they must be guided, at all times, by the electoral legal framework, the code of conduct for RECs and their good conscience.

He also urged them not to engage in a trivial debate that adds no value to their work, nor be impermeable to genuine criticisms, but maintain the commission’s tradition of regular consultations with critical stakeholders such as political parties, civil society organizations, the media, traditional institutions, religious bodies and the security agencies.

Prof Mahmood urged them to be very firm in ensuring fairness and transparency to all. Let me make it clear to you from the outset that you must at all times be guided by the electoral legal framework, the code of conduct for RECs and your good conscience.

“You must also work closely with your field officers in the State, listening to their wise counsel, but always providing guidance, leadership and effective supervision. Similarly, I must warn you to understand and operate within the limits of your delegated powers and responsibilities. Our state offices are part and parcel of the Commission and we will not hesitate to deal with acts of defiance, indiscretion or transgression on the part of any REC.,” he stressed.

The Chairman told them that the conduct of elections is not only a huge responsibility but also a sacred duty.

“As RECs, you are the representatives of the Commission in the various States to which you will be deployed shortly. The work of the Commission is a difficult task. Election is a multi-stakeholder activity.

“It is also a very emotive issue, especially in an environment where some desperate political actors and their supporters want to win by all means, failing which they blame the Commission or even seek to delegitimize the processes and demonize officials”.

The INEC chairman cautioned that the commission will hold every REC accountable for their actions and inactions, urging them to manage their personnel as well as the extremely limited resources at their disposal very well.

Prof. Yakubu thereafter announced the posting of the new RECs with immediate effect. According to him, Abubakar Dambo Sarkin Pawa will assume office as REC in Kebbi State, Abubakar Ma’aji Ahmed is to serve as REC in Borno State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha was posted to Edo State and Ehimeakhe Shaka Isah-Will as REC Akwa Ibom State.

Other postings were: Mal. Aminu Idris to resume as REC in Kaduna State, Mohammed Sadiq Abubakar as REC Kwara State, Mrs Oluwatoyin O. Babalola as REC in Ondo State, Olubunmi O. Omoseyindemi will resume as REC in Ekiti State while Shehu L. Wahab shall resume as REC in Nasarawa State.

In appreciation and on behalf of the new RECs, the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, pledged the loyalty of the new RECs to the oath of office.

Babalola also said the new RECs will commit themselves to high ethical and professional standards, discipline and hard work for the achievement of the goals and mission of the Commission.

She said “We will be firm, fair, impartial and nonpartisan to all political parties and all political actors, and act respectfully and civilly towards all electoral stakeholders because we are conscious of the enormous responsibilities of a Resident Electoral Commissioner in the electoral process in diverse and complex country like ours where elections are only fair when candidates win and their mandate stolen when they lose.”