Buhari appoints 6 new INEC Commissioners

Buhari shakes Mohammed Haruna after he sworn in JHaruna as INEC Commissioner in Abuja

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday swore in six Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Those who took the oath of office were AVM Ahmed Tijani Mu’Azu from Gombe representing N-E; Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Niger representing N-C; and Mr. Abubakar Ahmed Nahuche, from Zamfara representing, North west.

The others are
Prof. Okechukwu Obinna Ibeanu from Anambra representing, South East; Mr. May I. Agbamuche-Mbu representing South-South and Dr. Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola from Oyo representing South West.

At the ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Buhari expressed concern over the integrity of the nation’s electoral processes.

The president charged the commissioners to be firm and fair in the discharge of their duties, urging them to help consolidate the integrity of the electoral body.

“This administration is extremely concerned with the integrity of the electoral processes. You are people of great integrity, renowned throughout the country. This administration will depend on you to be firm and fair.

“What this administration expects is that after we have gone, that Nigerians will read in our political history, that we respect Nigerians.

He said that INEC had been wooing Nigerians to use his Permanent Voters Card (PVC), cross checked by card reader, that they have been given the opportunity.’’

”The security in their respective constituencies to elect those they want to elect, the rest is left to their conscience and to God.’’

The president, who frowned at the way by-elections were conducted in some states of the federation, said government would continue to ensure violent-free elections in the country.

He congratulated the commissioners for their new appointments.
Responding on behalf of the commissioners, Mr Okechukwu Ibeano, pledged that they would discharge their duties diligently.

He also thanked the president and Nigerians for giving them the opportunity to serve the nation.

“On behalf of my five colleagues, I thank the President and Nigerians for giving us this special and challenging opportunity to serve this country.

“We pledge to discharge our duties, responsibilities and functions as contained in the oath of allegiance and oath of office which we have just sworn to.

“We seek the support and prayers of the government and people of Nigeria so that we can discharge our functions to the best of our abilities and contribute to improve the advances and achievements that have been recorded in our electoral processes so far.

Ibeano, who responded on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the President for their appointments and promised not to fail the nation.

NAN