Ekiti State House of Assembly has confirmed a retired judge of the state High Court, Justice Cornelius Akintayo, as the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).
He was confirmed at yesterday’s plenary after he was given the privilege of taking a bow and go, having been found worthy of the new position by the lawmakers.
Special Adviser (Media) to the Speaker, Odunayo Ogunmola, said in a statement that the process began when the Speaker read a letter forwarded to the assembly by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, seeking confirmation of Justice Akintayo as the chairman of the state electoral agency for a term of five years.
The legislators said having been found as a competent and incorruptible judge in the course of his judicial career, Justice Akintayo would serve as an unbiased electoral umpire as the chairman of the state electoral agency empowered by law to organise local government elections.
The nominee spoke about his working experience, which he started as a court bailiff in the old Ondo State till the time he was appointed as a judge of the state High Court in 2002 by the first civilian governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, a position he held till his retirement from service.
Speaker Bunmi Adelugba subjected the nomination to a voice vote, with the legislators at the plenary saying “ayes” to the confirmation of the nominee as the new SIEC chief.
Other lawmakers who spoke in favour of his confirmation included Deputy Speaker Hakeem Jamiu, Femi Akindele, Akin Oso, Tajudeen Akingbolu and Adeoye Aribasoye.
Adelugba urged youths to emulate personalities like Justice Akintayo whom he noted exhibited patience, hard work, integrity and competence to be nominated for a position of honour after retirement from service.
Other key positions held by the new SIEC chairman included Director of Civil Litigation, Ministry of Justice; Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice; national assignments of membership of Election Petitions Tribunal in Bauchi, Jigawa and Abia states and Chairman, Local Government Election Petition Tribunal in Ekiti State.
He also served as the chairman of Ekiti State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Human Rights Abuses perpetrated by the operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) under the administration of former governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
The Justice Akintayo-led Panel of Inquiry into Human Rights Abuses by the SARS Operatives made history as the first to complete its assignment among other similar panels inaugurated by other states in Nigeria and the first to pay compensation to the victims, who filed petitions.