Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has administered the oath of office on six newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
While administering the oath of office and allegiance on the RECs, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Prof Yakubu urged them to uphold professionalism, transparency, and adherence to the electoral laws in the discharge of their duties and also reminded the appointees of the critical role they would be expected to play in ensuring credible elections and maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
He said; “The conduct of elections is not only a huge responsibility but also a sacred duty. You are the face of the Commission in the states to which you are deployed. Your actions must reflect the highest standards of integrity”.
The new appointees include two reappointed RECs, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem and Mukhtar Umar Gajiram while the four new appointees included; Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris, Mrs. Feyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi, Chukwuemeka Christopher Ibeziako, and Umar Yusuf Garba with backgrounds spaning public service, academia, law, and private sector experience.
The INEC chairman warned them against acting independent of the Commission or violating laid-down procedures, saying; “You must operate within the limits of your responsibilities. Any act of defiance or misconduct will be met with disciplinary measures”.
He said that while the new Resident Electoral Commissioners are to be posted to their geo-political zones, he quickly added that none of them would be made to serve in their state of origin.
He said that details of their deployment, along with related redeployments, will be published on INEC’s digital platforms.
In the words of Yakubu; “With today’s swearing-in, the Commission is better equipped to deliver on its mandate and strengthen the electoral process”.
