By Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has asked the 6 new National and a Resident Electoral Commissioner to be mindful while serving in INEC as the task ahead is challenging.
He urged them to settle in and familiarize themselves with the rules, procedures and responsibilities of their offices and contribute their quota to raising the bar of credible elections in Nigeria.
The Chairman, charged them to bring in their cumulative experiences in diverse fields so as to strengthen the work of the Commission for the reform of the electoral process and the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
The INEC boss who announced the posting of the new Resident Electoral Commissioner to Ondo State, said the appointment National Commissioners brings their number to 12 in the Commission
While urging them to deploy their vast knowledge and diverse experiences to the service of the country as unbiased referees, the INEC Chairman expressed confidence that they will assist in further extending the frontiers of free and fair elections in Nigeria.
According to Professor Yakubu, their success lies largely on their integrity as election managers and as such, must be strict in the application of the law, firm in handling the public trust bestowed in them and fair in their dealings with political parties, candidates and other stakeholders and all Nigerians.
He reminded them that in discharging their duties, they must abide by the oaths of office, 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.
Speaking on behalf of others, Major General Abubakar Alkali, retired, promised that they would fall in line with INEC’s standards in election
Said they will dedicate themselves to the values of INEC in dedication, integrity, credibility and otherwise to ensure a free fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
The six National Commissioners are not new Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer, Malam Mohammed Haruna, a journalist, Mr. Sam Olumekun, a retired civil servant, Mr. Kenneth Nnamdi Ukeagu, 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 while theew Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) hs Olaniyi Olaleye Babalola Ijalaye, a legal practitioner.
