IPAC lauds Buhari over nomination of Kenneth Ukeagu for INEC Commissioner

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) yesterday commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the nomination of Kenneth Ukeagu as a National Commissioner in the Independent National Commission (INEC).

In a statement in Abuja, the IPAC National Chairman, Yabagi Yusuf Sani, described the nomination of Ukeagu, a serving Director with INEC, as a commendable and ground-breaking appointment that will enhance smooth operations of the Commission.

Sani also observed that with his experience of thirty years, during which he climbed from a very junior officer through the rungs to his present position, the nominee will be coming on his new position with a tremendous wealth of experience that an inexperienced appointee would take a long time to master the ropes.

He said by this unique decision, President Muhammadu Buhari has established a new chapter of appointing working public officials to exalted positions hitherto considered as slots of political reward to cronies and party members, thereby jettisoning experience, professionalism and dedication in service.

The IPAC Chairman further observed that the appointment of Ukeagu would greatly inspire zeal and commitment to service by his colleagues at INEC to the national course of deepening and strengthening democratic institutions, adding that officials of the Commission should  by the President’s action, consider themselves as stakeholders in the national project of building democracy by avoiding corruption and other practices inimical to the success of INEC in the attainment of its goals of credible and transparent elections in Nigeria.

The IPAC National Chairman, who similarly commended Prof. Mahmud Yakubu for the role he clearly played in the identification and recognition of the dedication, diligence, discipline and patriotism which informed the President’s acceptance of Ukeagu’s appointment, also appealed to the National Assembly to confirm the appointee with the deserved urgency in view of the up-coming strategic elections later in the year and in 2023.

The IPAC boss admonished the new INEC Commissioner to justify the confidence reposed in him by the President, his employers, IPAC and other stakeholders by carrying into his new job, his attributes and tract records manifested all through his years in service.