By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu has expressed the firm optimism that the the coming on board of six new National Commissioners of the Commission will help strengthen its work for the reform of the electoral process and the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
Yakubu said this yesterday at a meeting to formally welcome the six National Commissioners as well as the swearing in of a new Resident Electoral Commissioner at the INEC’s headquarters in Abuja.
The six National Commissioners were, earlier yesterday, sworn-in by the President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Aso Rock, Abuja.
Two of them- Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer, and Malam Mohammed Haruna, a journalist, were re-appointed to serve for a second term, while Mr. Sam Olumekun, a retired civil servant, who had served for two terms as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in many States, including Lagos, was newly appointed.
The three others also newly appointed are; Mr. Kenneth Nnamdi Ukeagu, who has been a career staff of the Commission, rising to the rank of Director; Mrs. Rhoda Gumus, a Professor of Engineering and Modibbo Abubakar Alkali, a retired Major General of the Nigerian Army.
Speaking about the six National Commissioners, Yakubu said, “They bring to the Commission their cumulative experiences in diverse fields that will no doubt 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 said.
The INEC National Chairman charged the new Commissioners to deploy their vast knowledge and diverse experiences to the service of the country as unbiased referees.
He expressed the confidence that the six Commissioners will join others in the commission to further extending the frontiers of free and fair elections in Nigeria.
His words, “As I welcome the new Commissioners, I urge you to deploy your vast knowledge and diverse experiences to the service of the country as unbiased referees.
“I am confident that you will join us in further extending the frontiers of free and fair elections in Nigeria.
“As I told the last set of Commissioners shortly after they were sworn-in five months ago on Wednesday 15th September 2021, our success in this arduous task draws largely from our integrity as election managers.
“We must be strict in the application of the law, firm in handling the public trust bestowed in us and fair in our dealings with political parties, candidates and other stakeholders and all Nigerians.
“In discharging our enormous responsibilities, we must abide by our oaths of office.
“We must continue to defend the choice made by Nigerians at the polls by protecting the sanctity of the vote without which the value of democratic election is diminished.
“You are coming on board just three days to the conduct of six bye-elections to fill vacancies in three Federal and three State constituencies in Cross River, Imo, Ondo and Plateau States.
“The reality today is that there is no election season in Nigeria any longer. Elections are conducted all-year round by the Commission.
“In addition to the six bye-elections 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”, he said.
Yakubu told the National Commissioners that the task ahead is challenging, adding, “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”, he said
The new Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Olaniyi Olaleye Babalola Ijalaye, a legal practitioner, who was sworn in yesterday, filled the vacancy for Ondo State following the swearing-in of Mr. Sam Olumekun as a National Commissioner.
“In line with the Commission’s policy, Mr. Ijalaye is hereby deployed to Ogun State as the new REC. The current REC for Ogun State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, is redeployed to Lagos State. Handing and taking over is to be concluded by Monday 28th February 2022”, the INEC National Chairman said.
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