Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has sworn in 19 new Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs.
The RECs were sworn in on Thursday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, following the expiration of the tenure of 14 former RECS and reappointment of five others.
Speaking at the swearing in ceremony, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, charged the new appointees to be transparent and non-partisan, adding that they owe nothing to any individual but owe everything to the Nigerian people.
Yakubu said the RECs will be responsible for human and material resources deployed to the states of the federation, even as he urged them to work with INEC staff and be guided by the provisions of the law and various INEC regulations and guidelines.
“In discharging your responsibilities, you must at all times be transparent and non-partisan while remaining firm and courageous. You owe nothing to any individual but owe everything to the Nigerian people. We must continue to ensure that the choices they make on Election Day prevail. It is their decision.
“We are only administering the process in trust supported by technology. On this note, let me once again emphasise that the only means of voter accreditation during the 2023 General Election is the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) while results will be uploaded to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) in real-time on Election Day as provided by law,” he said.
The appointments come exactly 113 days to the 2023 general election as INEC moves against all odds to finalise arrangements for the polls.
Speaking on the professional background of the RECs, Yakubu disclosed that nine are from the academia, two lawyers, an accountant a retired ambassador and six civil/public servants, including retired permanent secretaries.
The INEC chairman urged them to settle down quickly and familiarise themselves with the demands of their new responsibilities, always bearing in mind the commission’s commitment to free, fair, credible, transparent and verifiable elections.
“In dealing with the general public, you should be guided by the provisions of the Commission’s Code of Conduct. You should not be visitors to Government Houses and must never hold unofficial meetings with politicians, even after official working hours.
“All matters pertaining to offical responsibilities should be conducted in the office attended by the relevant staff and properly documented. This is your best protection against mischief. Do not compromise the neutrality of the Commission or create the perception of partisanship protection against mischier. Do not compromise the neutrality of the Commission or create the perception of partisanship,” he said.
The new RECs and their states of assignment are: Prof. Uzochukwu Chijioke- Abia, Barr. Nuhu Yunusa- Adamawa, Mrs Queen Elizabeth Agwu- Anambra, Mohammed Bulama Nura- Bauchi, Prof. Samuel Egwu- Benue, Yomere Gabriel Oritsemolebi- Cross River, Onyeka Pauline Ugochi- Ebonyi, Obo O. Effanga- Edo, and Prof. Ayobami Salami Umar Ibrahim- Ekiti.
Others are: Umar Ibrahim- Gombe, 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 and Ibrahim Abdullahi- Yobe.
