The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sworn in six new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), filling all vacancies across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The ceremony held at the INEC Conference Room in Abuja was presided over by the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The newly sworn-in RECs include Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem who was posted to Cross River State; Mukhtar Umar Gajiram to Taraba State; Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris to Gombe State; Feyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi to Ogun State; Chukwuemeka Christopher Ibeziako to Abia State; and Umar Yusuf Garba to Sokoto State.
Yakubu noted that two of the appointees, Sinikiem and Gajiram, were reappointed for a second term, while others brought a mix of electoral experience and private sector expertise.
The commission also redeployed 11 RECs to new states.
The officials and their new postings include: Aminu Idris who was redeployed to Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Hale Gabriel Longpet (Kwara), Prof. Gabriel Yomeri (Rivers), Dr. Agundu Oliver Tersoo (Kogi), Mahmuda Isah (Zamfara), Mohammed Abubakar Sadio (Plateau), Mohammed Bulama Nura (Adamawa).
Other are Prof. Saidu Babura Ahmed (Kaduna), Umar Ibrahim (Bauchi), Isah Shaka Ehimeakhe (Bayelsa), and Obo OEffanga (Akwa Ibom).
The INEC Chairman charged the RECs to adhere strictly to the electoral legal framework, uphold the code of conduct, and engage stakeholders transparently.
He warned against acts of defiance or indiscretion, nothing that RECs would be held accountable for their actions.
He said: “The conduct of elections is not only a huge responsibility but also a sacred duty. As RECs, you are the representatives of the Commission in the various States to which you will be deployed shortly.The work of the Commission is, to say the least, very challenging.
“I am glad that two of you, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem and Mukhtar Umar Gajiram, have been reappointed for a second term having served for an initial term of five years as RECs while Dr Sa’ad Umar Idris and MFeyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi have been career staff of the Commission. Chukwuemeka Christopher Ibeziako, a private legal practitioner and Umar Yusuf Garba with years of experience in the private sector are coming into the Commission for the first time.
“Together, all six of you have cumulative experience in election administration or the management of public affairs to justify the confidence reposed in you to serve in the high office of REC. As you assume or resume duty, I urge you to focus on your responsibilities. Let me make it clear from the outset that you must at all times be guided by the electoral legal framework, the code of conduct for RECs as well as the regulations and guidelines governing the Commission’s operations.
While urging the new appointees to always act in good conscience, Yakubu advised them not to betray their oath of office, saying that “in the best tradition of the Commission, you must engage with stakeholders through regular consultative meetings and must not be impervious to genuine criticisms.-
He noted that their appointment was a full-time and not part-time responsibility, urging them to provide leadership and exercise effective supervision.
“It is also important to understand and operate within the limits of your delegated powers and responsibilities. Our State offices are part and parcel of the Commission. You must never act independently or think that you can act in violation of the law, regulations and guidelines or defy the Commission without consequences.
“We will hold you accountable for your actions and inactions. We will not hesitate to deal with acts of defiance, indiscretion or transgression on the part of any Resident Electoral Commissioner.
“The deployment requires a consequential redeployment of some of the serving RECs from their current locations to other States in line with the extant policy. For the serving RECs, this has been handled administratively. However, the full list will be uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms for public information shortly.
“I must add that the deployment of RECs is a routine exercise. While the Commission tries to maintain stability of the process, RECs can be redeployed again as the need arises.”
