The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) swore in nine new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Tuesday. These appointments were confirmed by the National Assembly to fill vacancies across various states of the Federation.
The new RECs include Abubakar Pawa (Kebbi), Abubakar Ahmed (Borno), Dr. Anugbum Onuoha (Edo), Ehimeakhe Isah (Akwa Ibom), Mal. Aminu Idris (Kaduna), Mohammed Abubakar (Kwara), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola (Ondo), Olubunmi Omoseyindemi (Ekiti), and Shehu Wahab (Nasarawa).
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu announced at a meeting with the RECs that the tenth REC-designate will be sworn in next month, following the end of the current REC’s tenure representing Akwa Ibom State, who is presently deployed to Delta State.
Among the nine new RECs, four are career officers of the Commission who have risen to the rank of director. Their experiences span electoral operations, election and party monitoring, and electoral litigation. This is the first time several INEC career officers have been appointed as RECs.
The other five RECs sworn in have varied experiences in public service at both national and state levels. The Commission has promised to hold them to the same standard as the career officers.
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In addition, the Commission plans to liaise with the National and State Assemblies to declare vacancies in six constituencies for by-elections. These include Ebonyi South and Yobe East Senatorial Districts, Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State, Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Isa/Sabon Birni Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, and Khana II State Constituency of Rivers State.
Five vacancies have also been declared for Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State, Chibok State Constituency of Borno State, Chikun State Constituency of Kaduna State, and Guma State Constituency of Benue State.
The INEC Chairman stated that, in line with current policy, the nine new RECs would be deployed within their geopolitical zones, but none would serve in their state of origin. He also announced that the Commission would soon release the timetable and schedule of activities for the re-run elections and by-elections in constituencies where vacancies have been declared by presiding officers of legislative houses following the death or resignation of serving members of the national and state assemblies.