INEC Chairman Welcomes Six New National Commissioners, a new Resident Electoral Commissioner Sworn in
Oru Leonard
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu yesterday welcomed six additional National Commissioners to the Commission’s fold.
The 6 National Commissioners resumed at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja, after they were earlier sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, on Wednesday.
Professor Yakubu also swore in a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barr Olaniyi Olaleye Babalola Ijalaye from Ondo state, immediately deployed to Ogun State as the new REC while Mr. Olusegun Agbaje in Ogun state was redeployed to Lagos State, where a vacuum was created with the appointment of Mr. Sam Olumekun, the immediate past REC of Lagos state, as one of the new National Commissioners
The other newly sworn in members of the Commission are: Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, Malam Mohammed Haruna, Mr. Kenneth Nnamdi Ukeagu, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, and Maj. Gen. Modibbo Abubakar Alkalu (Rtd.)
The INEC Chairman his welcome address noted that four of them are not new to the Commission. According to him “ Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer, and Malam Mohammed Haruna, a journalist, have been re-appointed to serve for a second term. Mr. Sam Olumekun, a retired civil servant, has served for two terms as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in many States, including Lagos while Mr. Kenneth Nnamdi Ukeagu has been a career staff of the Commission, rising to the rank of Director”.
“The other two National Commissioners are Mrs. Rhoda Gumus, a Professor of Engineering, and Modibbo Abubakar Alkali, a retired Major General of the Nigerian Army”, he added.
He said they will bring to the Commission their cumulative experiences in diverse fields that will strengthen the work of the Commission for the reform of the electoral process and the conduct of free, fair and credible elections. With your appointment, the Commission now has the full compliment of 12 National Commissioners”.
He urged the new members of the Commission to settle in quickly for the herculean task ahead. He said: “let me draw the attention of the new National and Resident Electoral Commissioners to the reality of serving in INEC. The task ahead is challenging. It is important therefore to quickly settle in and familiarize yourselves with the rules, procedures and responsibilities of your office. I have no doubt that we will continue to raise the bar of credible elections in Nigeria”.
The INEC Chairman urged them to uphold the tannates of integrity, rule of law and service to nation in the discharge of their duties.
He reiterated the Commission’s preparations for the bye elections to fill vacancies in three Federal and three State constituencies in Cross River, Imo, Ondo and Plateau States scheduled for Saturday 26th February, 2022 and noted that there is no election season in Nigeria any longer as elections are conducted all-year round by the Commission.
“Six bye-elections are holding this weekend, there are three pending bye-elections in Zamfara State (Shinkafi and Gusau I State Constituencies) and Kaduna State (Giwa West State Constituency). In addition, we are right now preparing for two off-cycle Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States scheduled for 18th June 2022 and 16th July 2022 respectively as well as the 2023 General Election”.
Responding on behalf of the new appointees, Maj. Gen. Modibbo Abubakar Alkali (Rtd), said their task was to support the INEC Chairman to develop an Election Management Body that would be the pride of Nigerians. He therefore assured that they will key into the vision and mission of the Commission and abide by the oath of office they took to do execute their with honesty and integrity.
