INEC Chairman tasks newly sworn RECs on credible elections

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, has advised the newly sworn National Commissioners that any credible election draws heavily from the integrity of the election managers.

Yakubu stated this on Wednesday while welcoming three new Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC’s) at a brief ceremony which took place at INEC headquarters in Abuja.

He charged the RECs to see their appointments as a call to national duty while discharging their various responsibilities, he urged them to acquaint themselves with rules, regulations and procedures of their offices noting the task ahead is challenging.

“Let me draw the attention of the new National and Resident Electoral Commissioners to the reality of serving in INEC. The task ahead is challenging but it is also a national call to service. It is important to quickly settle in and familiarize yourselves with the rules, procedures and responsibilities of your office.

“Let me reiterate once again that you should always bear in mind that a credible election draws heavily from the integrity of the election managers. I urge you to join us in raising the bar even higher.”

While welcoming the Commissioners, Yakuku introduced those sworn-in by President Muhammadu Buhari as “Professor Abdullahi Zuru, a Chemist and former Vice Chancellor of Kebbi State University and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; Professor Sani Adam, a lawyer and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja; and Dr Baba Bila, a Chartered Accountant and former Bursar of the University of Benin.

Earlier, the chairman
swore a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). He is Sa’idu Ahmad, a Professor of English Literature from Bayero University Kano. He fills the vacancy for Jigawa State, being the only State without a REC following the completion of tenure of Abdullahi Kaugama, an experienced administrator who had earlier served as Secretary to the Commission.

Yakuku explained that “At the moment, the policy of the Commission is to deploy RECs within their geo-political zones, but they will not be posted to their States of origin. Accordingly, Professor Ahmad is hereby deployed as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Zamfara State.

In addition he said “All four appointees bring to the Commission their vast knowledge and experience as scholars and administrators.

“I am confident that they will join us in further extending the frontiers of free and fair elections in Nigeria.

“In addition to adherence to the provisions of the law, our success in this arduous task also draws from our integrity as election managers. We must be strict in the application of the law and firm in handling the public trust bestowed on us and fair in our dealings with political parties and candidates.

“We must remember that in discharging our responsibilities, Nigeria and Nigerians must always come first.

“We must abide by our oaths of office to defend the choice made by Nigerians at the polls in all elections and continue to protect the sanctity of the vote without which democratic election is meaningless.

“You are coming on board just 52 days to a major election in Anambra State. The election to choose a Governor for the State is scheduled to hold on Saturday 6th November 2021. All the 18 political parties in Nigeria are fielding candidates in the election and campaign has since commenced. Preparations for the election are at an advanced stage with many of the activities outlined in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election already implemented.

“Our intention is to keep deepening the credibility of the electoral process by improving on all planning, management, implementation and support processes through the deployment of appropriate technology.”