Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday asked Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to be firm and courageous in
carrying out their assignments.
Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who gave the charge
while swearing in seven new RECs expressed confidence that the new commissioners
would contribute to the commission’s determination to make 2019 general
election the best in the country.
With the swearing-in of the seven new commissioners, the
total number of serving RECs in the commission is now to 33.
He said: “With the track records of service in the
academia, public service and private sector, it is gratifying to note that the
new RECs made positive contributions to the society in various ways.
“I am equally delighted to note that some of you have
managed elections at national level as RECs.
“I am confident that you will bring to bear on your new
assignments, the experience of the recent past that will contribute to our
determination to make the 2019 general election our best elections in Nigeria.”
Yakubu advised the new commissioners to maintain openness and
consultations as well as be firm and courageous in carrying out their new
assignments.
The chairman explaining that in addition to the Ekiti and
Osun States governorship elections, the commission would conduct four
bye-elections this year to fill vacancies.
These, according to him, include Takum state constituency in
Taraba; Lokoja/Koton-Karfe federal constituency in Kogi; Bauchi South senatorial
district, and Kastina North senatorial district in Kastina State.
Yakubu reassured newly registered voters in the ongoing
nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) of getting their Permanent Voter
Cards (PVCs) before the 2019 general election.
“We have consistently reassured the public that for
those who registered in 2017, their PVCs would be available for collection in
the first week of May 2018.
“Those who registered in the first quarter of this
year, between January and March, as well as those who are registering now in
the second quarter of this year, they would collect their cards thereafter,” he
said.
For those who registered in Ekiti and Osun State in 2017 and
2018, Yakubu said priority attention will be given to the production of their
PVCs, adding that all the cards would be available ahead of the July 14 and
September 22 governorship elections.
Speaking on behalf of the new RECs, Mr. Segun Agbaje,
representing Ekiti State, pledged the new commissioners’ readiness to justify
the confidence reposed in them.
The new RECs are: Mr. Baba Yusuf and Mr. Segun Agbaje,
representing Borno and Ekiti States for second term.
Others are Dr. Uthman Ajidagba, Kwara; Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa State; Dr Emmanuel
Hart, Rivers State; Mohammed Ibrahim, Gombe State, and Dr. Cyril Omorogbe, Edo
State.
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