Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)has named Ahmed Mu’azu, a retired air vice marshal, as its acting chairman.
The outgoing INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, made the announcement on Monday at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Yakubu has been reappointed for a second term in office by President Muhammadu Buhari, but his reappointment is yet to be confirmed by the Senate.
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Mu’azu, an electoral commissioner representing the North-East Zone, has now been appointed following the expiration of Yakubu’s five year-term.
Yakubu, speaking at the handing over ceremony, noted that it will be inappropriate for him to remain in office beyond today, November 9, without confirmation by the Senate and swearing to another oath of office as provided by law.
According to him;
You may recall that the current Commission was inaugurated in three batches. The Chairman and five Commissioners were sworn-in on 9th November 2015, followed by another six Commissioners on 7th December 2016 and one more Commissioner on 21st July 2018.
The Commission is a constitutional body whose members are appointed for five years which may be renewed for a second and final term. This means that my tenure and that of the first set of five Commissioners ends today.
He expressed;
As you are already aware, our work as election managers requires us to enforce the law, regulations and guidelines. In doing so, we must demonstrate strict respect for, and compliance with, the Constitution of Nigeria and subsidiary laws. Consequently, it will be inappropriate for me to remain in office beyond today, 9th November 2020, without confirmation by the Senate and swearing to another oath of office as provided by law.
Pending the conclusion of the statutory process, the remaining National Commissioners have resolved that AVM Ahmed Mu’azu (rtd) will oversee the affairs of the Commission.
He said;
It is therefore my pleasure to hand over to him in the interim. We have worked as a team for the last four years. Therefore, there is nothing new to anyone of them.
Yakubu was first appointed INEC chairman in November 2015. He succeeded Attahiru Jega, who supervised the 2015 general election.
In his reaction to the appointment, the Acting Chairman, AVM Ahmed Mu’azu (rtd), thanked the outgoing chairman of INEC and his colleagues for the privilege and confidence reposed in him to oversee the commission.
He assured that he will handle the affairs of the commission with all due diligence.
