INEC Chairman swears in 19 Resident Electoral Commissioners

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday sworn in 19 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) 113 days to the 203 general elections.

The INEC chairman noted that of 19 RECs, 14 were new appointees, while five were re-appointed for a second and final tenure.

Prof. Yakubu also highlighted that nine RECs were appointed form the academia, including professors; two lawyers; one accountant; one retired Ambassador and six civil/public servants, including retired Permanent Secretary.

The INEC chairman urged the RECs to settle down quickly and familiarize themselves with the demands of their responsibilities, always bearing in mind the commission’s commitment to free, fair, credible, transparent, and verifiable elections.

The 19 RECs include Prof. Uzochukwu I. Chijioke, Abia State; Barrister Nuhu Yunusa, Adamawa State; Mrs. Queen Elizabeth Agu, Anambra State; Mohammed Bulama Nura, Bauchi State; Prof. Samuel G. Egwu, Benue State; Yomere Gabriel Oritsemolebi, Cross River State; Onyeka Pauline Ugochi, Ebonyi State; Obo O. Effanga, Edo State; Prof. Ayobami Salami, Ekiti State; Umar Ibrahim, Gombe State; Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, Imo State; prof. Muhammad L. Bashar, Jigawa State; Amb. Abdu Abdussamadu Zango, Kano State; Prof. Yahaya Makarfi Ibrahim, Katsina; Ahmed Yushau Garki, Niger State; Dr. Agboke Mutiu Olaleke, Osun State; Dr. Agundu Oliver Terso, Plateau State; Dr. Nura Ali, Sokoto State and Ibrahim Abdullahi, Yobe State.

While the new RECs were deployed to the various states, the four serving RECs were redeployed. They include Dr. Adediran Rahmon Tella, now in Oyo State from Ekiti State; Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, redeployed from Cross river to Rivers State; Dr. Chukwuemeka J. Chukwu, redeployed from Ebonyi to Enugu State, and Dr. Mahmuda Isah, redeployed from Jigawa to Kaduna State.

Prof. Yakubu declared that the commission should continue to focus on the goal of improving the electoral process.