The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has sworn in six newly-appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, effectively filling all vacancies in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who presided over the swearing-in ceremony at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday, congratulated the appointees and emphasized the weight of the responsibilities ahead.
Yakubu announced the immediate deployment of the RECs, warning that their role is both a high honour and a sacred duty.
“You are the Commission’s representatives in the states and are expected to provide leadership, manage resources prudently, and uphold the integrity of the electoral process,” he charged them.
Among the new appointees are two returning commissioners, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem and Mukhtar Umar Gajiram, who were reappointed for a second term.
Others include career INEC staff Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris and Mrs. Feyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi, as well as newcomers Chukwuemeka Christopher Ibeziako, a legal practitioner, and Umar Yusuf Garba, an experienced private sector executive.
The RECs were immediately deployed as follows: Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem- Cross River; Dr Sa’ad Umar Idris- Gombe; Mrs. Feyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi- Ogun; Mukhtar Umar Gajiram- Taraba; Chukwuemeka C. Ibeziako- Abia; and Umar Yusuf Garba- Sokoto State.
Yakubu charged the RECs to act within the limits of their delegated authority and in accordance with INEC’s legal and ethical frameworks, noting that any acts of defiance or misconduct would not be tolerated.
He also announced that in line with policy, the new RECs were deployed within their geopolitical zones but not in their states of origin.
He said their deployment will result in the consequential redeployment of some serving RECs, with full details to be published on INEC’s website and social media platforms.
Responding on behalf of the newly-sworn-in RECs, Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris, pledged unwavering commitment to integrity, impartiality, and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
Sa’ad expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and acknowledged the weight of the responsibility entrusted to them.
“We are deeply honoured by this call to national service. We understand that the credibility of elections depends not just on structures, but on the character of those entrusted to manage them,” he stated.
He assured Nigerians of their dedication to democratic ideals, saying the new RECs would promote voter education, deepen citizen participation, and collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.
“We accept this role with humility and determination to serve diligently and conscientiously,” he said.
