The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday swore in 19 newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
President Muhammadu Buhari had in July transmitted the names of 19 nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
Among the nominees is the immediate past REC for Rivers State, Mr Obo Effang, who bowed out after five years of service.
Other renewal nominees confirmed include Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa); Umar Ibrahim (Taraba); Agboke Olaleke (Ogun); and Professor Samuel Egwu (Kogi).
Those confirmed for fresh appointment are Onyeka Ugochi (Imo); Muhammad Bashir (Sokoto); Ayobami Salami, a professor, (Oyo); Zango Abdu (Katsina); Queen Agwu (Ebonyi); and Agundu Tersoo (Benue); Yomere Oritsemlebi (Delta); Yahaya Ibrahim, a professor, (Kaduna); Nura Ali (Kano); Agu Uchenna (Enugu); Ahmed Garki (FCT); Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi); Uzochukwu Chijioke, a professor, (Anambra); and Mohammed Nura (Yobe).
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who performed the ceremony at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, urged the officials to maintain neutrality in discharging their duties.
He noted that with exactly 113 days to the 2023 general election, the commission must ensure that they do not disappoint Nigerians.
According to him, “Our loyalty is to Nigeria and our allegiance is to Nigerians. Only their votes should determine winners in the 2023 General Election. Nothing more, nothing less. There should be no deviation from this path of honour and integrity.”
Yakubu said the commission had introduced innovations to improve the electoral process.
The INEC boss maintained that in line with the commission’s practice, RECs are deployed to States within their geo-political zones, however, they will not serve in their state of origin throughout their tenure.
The new officials were deployed as follows: Prof. Uzochukwu Chijioke (Abia), Barr. Nuhu Yunusa (Adamawa), Queen Elizabeth Agu (Anambra), Mohammed Bulama Nura (Bauchi), Prof. Samuel G. Egwu (Benue), Yomere Gabriel Oritsemolebi (Cross River), Onyeka Pauline Ugochi (Ebonyi) Obo Effanga (Edo), Prof. Ayobami Salami (Ekiti), Umar Ibrahim (Gombe), Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu (Imo), Prof. Muhammad L. Bashar (Jigawa), Amb. Abdu Abdussamadu Zango (Kano), Prof. Yahaya Makarfi Ibrahim (Katsina), Ahmed Yushau Garki (Niger), Dr. Agboke Mutiu Olaleke (Osun) Dr. Agundu Oliver Tersoo (Plateau), Dr. Nura Ali (Sokoto), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Yobe).
The four RECs whose tenures were renewed were also redeployed as Chukwuemeka J. Chukwu (Enugu), Mahmuda Isah (Kaduna), Dr. Adediran Rahmon Tell (Oyo), Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem (Rivers).
