The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Senate tasks INEC on credible elections

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sen. Ali Ndume, has challenged the commission to ensure that it conducted credible elections in 2019.

He particularly called on the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to surpass the achievements of his immediate predecessor, Prof. Atahiru Jega.

Ndume gave the charged when the committee hosted INEC in a defence of its 2017 Budget on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the country could not return to the past when irregularities stalled elections across the country.

According to him, the 2015 general elections conducted by Jega was globally acclaimed to be credible and the best of its kind in the history of the country.

The chairman assured that the committee was willing to give the commission all the support it needed to ensure that the 2019 polls and beyond met expectations of Nigerians.

Defending the commission’s budget, its chairman said that N45 billion had been budgeted for its activities in 2017.

He said that N20.9 billion was earmarked for Personnel Cost during the year, explaining that the commission’s staff strength was over 16, 000.

Yakubu added that N19 billion was budgeted for electoral matters as against N25 billion in 2016 because there would be only a few elections during the year.

Due to some exigencies, the commission’s defence was adjourned till Tuesday to enable members of the committee acquaint themselves with details of the document.

February 16, 2017
Outstanding 2015 Rivers polls for Saturday – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday for the conclusion of outstanding 2015 elections in Rivers.

A statement by the commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak in Port Harcourt on Tuesday said the exercise would hold Etche and Omuma Local Government Areas.

The election, according to the statement, is to fill the Etche Constituency II seat in the House of Assembly and Etche/Omuma seat in the House of Representatives.

It said that the election would hold in 147 polling units in 19 Registration Areas in Etche and one polling unit (Umuogba Community I) in Omuma.

The commission encouraged eligible voters in the constituencies to come out en masse to vote for their candidates.

”The commission assures the public of a credible and fair conclusion of the election in Etche Local Government Area,” the statement said.

It also said that security agencies had been contacted to provide adequate security during the exercise.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that following court rulings that invalidated the 2015 federal and state legislative elections in the state, INEC slated March 19, 2016, for re-run polls.

Unfortunately, the exercise was marred by violence, which forced the electoral body to suspend the polls midway.

On Dec. 10, 2016, when the re-run was rescheduled, it was inconclusive in Etche and part of Omuma areas due to some irregularities, prompting the repeat which has been fixed for Saturday.

February 14, 2017
PDP not diminished by loss of power – Jonathan
- Anenih: Party plagued by selfish interests
The loss of power at the centre in the 2015 general election has not diminished the electoral value of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former President Goodluck Jonathan has said.

Jonathan, who stated this in Abuja while receiving a delegation of PDP chieftains at his private evidence, said the party would work hard to get back to power in 2019.

The former President harped on the need for the present administration to strengthen national institutions, stressing that the nation can only grow when the institutions are strengthened.

“No nation can grow with weakened institutions,” Jonathan said, adding that existing political parties also required reforms to strengthen their structures.

The former President buttressed his call for strong institutions with the case of the United States, where President Donald Trump’s travel ban on Muslims was upturned by the courts.

He assured the party chieftains of his willingness to make himself available for contributions towards rebuilding and repositioning the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Jonathan welcomed the idea of direct primaries to elect the party’s candidates for general elections, as enunciated by the party chieftains.

He, however, pointed out that direct primaries do present serious challenges, particularly with the number of voters involved. Rather, he canvassed enlarged and broad-based delegate system from the ward level.

Speaking at a separate venue, a former chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, blamed the sorry state of the PDP on the pursuit of selfish interests by chieftains of the party.

Anenih, who also received the party’s delegation at his private residence in Abuja regretted that the PDP had missed many opportunities to organise the party.

“Everybody wants to be national chairman, everybody wants to be the presidential candidate in the pursuit of personal interests and ambitions”, Anenih stated.

Chief Anenih faulted the decision of the party leaders to wait for the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the leadership tussle between the PDP Caretaker Committee and the Ali Modu Sheriff camp.

“Why must you wait for the Appeal Court to deliver judgment before you can organise yourselves as a party,” he queried, adding that the party should start its rebranding process right now.

According to him, many of the politicians that destroyed the PDP have now found themselves in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the APC only exists in the pages of newspapers.

“When things go a little bit wrong, the next thing they do is to move to another political party. I never believed leaving my political party to join another”, he said.

He advised the leadership of the PDP to strive hard to rebuild the party and make it strong enough to challenge the APC in the 2019 elections.

Anenih continued, “You need to build a strong PDP because the APC is nowhere today. It only exists in the pages of newspapers. We need a strong opposition and constructive criticism to move forward.

“The PDP has a chance to choose a leader that will lead the country when President Muhammadu Buhari finishes his tenure. God will help us to choose the leader that will lead Nigeria”.

The Edo-born politician who called it quit with active partisan politics late 2016, observed that the governors elected on the platform of the PDP were not doing enough to help the party.

He stressed the need for them to be making monthly financial contributions towards the running of the party, saying, “you can’t do anything without money”.

Chief Anenih enjoined the party leaders to strive ensure a credible convention to elect committed leaders to run the affairs of the party.

A former national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who also received the delegation expressed delight that the PDP had kept faith with democracy.

He, however, observed that certain negative tendencies had continued to hinder the growth and progress of the PDP.

Tukur enjoined the party leaders to shun ethnicity and religious bigotry to able the PDP face the challenge of providing strong and credible front to win the 2019 general elections.

The leader of the delegation, Prof Jerry Gana, had earlier presented the report of the party’s Strategy Review and Inter-Party Relations Committee to the hosts during the visit.

He had expressed reservations about the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as it is presently constituted.

According to him, INEC aid being controlled by the APC led Federal Government, saying however that a summit of opposition parties was in the offing and that the issue of partisanship on the part of the INEC would be tacked at the summit.
February 13, 2017
INEC constitutes diaspora voting, electoral constituencies committees

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has constituted a 10-member committee on the Review of Diaspora or Out-of-Country Voting.

Also constituted, according to the commission’s daily bulletin issued on Tuesday in Abuja are eight-member committee for the Review of Electoral Constituencies and committee for Review of Polling Units and Registration Areas.

It said that other committees set up included those on Review of the Suppressed Constituencies and Review of GIS Laboratory.

The commission explained that the committees were constituted as part of its effort at improving the electoral process, adding that the committees were chaired by its National Commissioners.

It said that all the committees were expected to submit their final reports to the commission within six weeks.

The term of reference for the Committee on Review of Electoral Constituencies, according to the bulletin, include reviewing INEC’s past and recent attempts at delimitation of constituencies and make recommendations on the way forward.

It added that the committee was also mandated to review and advice on INEC’s collaboration with other government agencies and listed them as National Population Commission, National Space Research and Development Agency and National Broadcasting Commission.

Others are the Office of The Surveyor General of the Federation, National Boundary Commission and Nigerian Postal Service.

“The committee is to also review existing delimitation guidelines and develop new guidelines for delimitation/delineation of the federal constituencies to meet the demand of the current state of the nation.”

It added that the Committee on the Review of Polling Units and Registration Areas, chaired by Prof. Okey Ibeanu, had as term of reference, to consider the current status of Polling Units and Registration Areas, nationwide.

The committee is also expected to propose a framework and criteria for review as well as recommend a plan of action for the commission’s approval.

Mr Adedeji Soyebi was named as Chairman of Committee on Review of Suppressed Constituencies, while Amina Zakari would chair the committee on diaspora voting.

According to the bulletin, the chairman of the Committee on Review of GIS Laboratory is Dr Mohammed Lecky.

January 31, 2017
2,452 INEC staff for Etsako federal constituency election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo said the commission had deployed 2,452 ad-hoc and INEC staff for the Etsako federal constituency election into the House of Representatives.

The election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, Jan. 28.

Mr Oscar-Lee Amaechi, the Administrative Secretary of the commission in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that the staff had been trained and were prepared for the election.

Amaechi said there were a total of 308 polling units in Etsako federal constituency.

“We have 12 wards in Etsako West; 10 wards in Etsako East and 10 wards in Etsako Central local government areas.

“Information about the election had been passed across to all political parties. We have published a notice to that effect.

“Six political parties are participating in the elections. We have three male and three female candidates participating in the election across the six political parties,” he said.

Ameachi listed the six the political parties as, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD).

Others are, Mega Progressive People Party (MPPP), New Patriotic Party (NPP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC).

According to him, only youth corps members and INEC staff will be used as polling officers in the poll.

Amaechi further explained that the commission had held a security meeting with the security agencies in the state and that they had promised to provide security during and after the elections.

He said non-sensitive materials had left the commission’s office about a week ago, and that sensitive materials were about to be dispatched from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Benin, to Etsako federal constituency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Etsako federal constituency seat in the House of Representative became vacant following the Election of Mr Philip Shaibu as the Deputy to Gov. Godwin Obaseki.

Shaibu was the member representing Etsako federal constituency in the House of Representatives before he became the deputy governor.

January 26, 2017
Ondo Poll: INEC arraigns seven persons

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday arraigned seven persons before an Akure Magistrate court for allegedly involved in electoral malpractices during the November 26, 2016 governorship election in Ondo State.

They are: Adejoye Emmanuel, Olomojuni Morire, Ololajulo Oladeji, Ebigbemi Ajinde, Aminu Sunday, Fagbemi Segun and Tope Awe.

Emmanuel, Morire , Oladeji were arraigned at the Oke Eda Magistrate Court on Tueday, while Ebigbemi Ajinde, Aminu Sunday, Fagbemi Segun and Tope Awe were arraigned at the Magistrate court located along hospital road, Akure last week.

Prosecuting Counsel, Adeniyi Lawal said the trio of Emmanuel, Morire and Oladeji were arrested for allegedly possessing eight Permanent Voters Cards at Mahin ward one unit 16, Igokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state on the election day.

He also said Ebigbemi was arrested for allegedly causing breach of peace at Ekitan Ward unit 10, Okonla in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state on the election day.

Both Sunday, Segun and Awe were arrested by the police at Oke-Ijebu area of Akure for allegedly being in possession of dangerous weapons in their vehicle while election was going on.

The suspects were said to have committed an electoral offence contrary to and punishable under section 129 (1) and (4) of the Electoral Acts 2010 (as amended)‎.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Femi Adetoye, however, argued that INEC has no constitutional power to prosecute alleged electoral offenders.

He said the prosecution of electoral offenders was the duty of the Attorney-General of the state.

But, the prosecuting counsel disagreed with him, arguing that section 150 of the Electoral Acts empowered INEC to prosecute any electoral offender.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Victoria Bob-Manuel however agreed with the prosecuting counsel and ordered INEC to go ahead with the prosecution.

She thereafter adjourned the case till February 16, 2017 for further hearing

January 17, 2017
Senate abolishes state joint local govt account

…Create office of elected Mayor for FCT

…Removes CCB from Executive

If the recommendation of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution is accepted by the House of Representatives and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, the state joint local government account will be a thing of the past.

The abolition of the state joint local government account is one of the highlights Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, presented to the Senate Thursday.

Ekweremadu also said that the Senate constitution committee adopted the recommendation to create a mayoral seat for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

He noted that the committee, inaugurated on 13^th January, 2016 had a clear mandate to reprocess the aspects of the Fourth Alteration Bill that had gained national consensus and enjoyed huge good-will from the general public, states, non-governmental organizations and international development organizations.

On local government administration, Ekweremadu said that Section 7 of the Constitution was amended essentially to strengthen local government administration in Nigeria by elaborately providing –    A uniform 3-year tenure for elected local government council officials; That Local Governments without a democratically elected council shall not be entitled to any revenue from the Federation Account.

Members of the committee, he said, believed that amendments will ensure effective service delivery and insulate local governments from undue and counter-productive interferences from state governments.

On distributable pool account, he said that Section 162 of the Constitution was amended to – Provide for national savings of 50% of   oil revenues above the bench mark for a particular year and 10% of any non- oil revenue paid into the Federation Account; Or such other percentage not less than that provided in this section as the National Assembly may determine in the Appropriation Act of a particular year.

To provide that any such savings as stipulated in this section will be distributed in accordance with the prevailing revenue sharing formula and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution provided that the savings shall not be distributed in any period less than ten years from the date of a particular savings; and to     abrogate the State Joint Local Government Account and paying monies due to Local Government Councils directly into their respective accounts

The amended section, he said, also defined the fund of the State government; “that is, internally generated revenue from which a portion shall be paid into the Local Government Allocation Account.”

On authorization of expenditure, Ekweremadu said that Sections 82 and 122 of the Constitution were amended to reduce the period within which the President or a Governor may authorize the withdrawal of monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the absence of an appropriation act from six months to three months.

The amendment, he explained was essentially to compel early presentation of budget proposal by the Executive arm of government thereby giving the legislature sufficient time to scrutinize such proposal.

On political parties and electoral matters, he said that Sections 134 (4) & (5), 179 (4) & (5) and 225 were amended to – Extend the time for conducting presidential and Governorship re-run elections where no clear winner has emerged   from seven to 21 days to give INEC sufficient time to plan, considering the logistics that is required such as printing and transporting new ballot papers for the elections;

To empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-register political parties for non-fulfillment of certain conditions such as breach of registration requirements and failure to secure/win either a presidential, governorship, Local Government chairmanship or a seat in the National or State Assembly elections.

On financial autonomy of state legislatures, he said that Section 121 of the Constitution was amended to guarantee a first line charge funding of State Houses of Assembly from the consolidated revenue fund of the State.

On status of the Federal Capital Territory, he noted that Sections 256, 299, 300, 301 and 302 of the Constitution were amended to Create the Office of an elected Mayor for the FCT with powers to administer the FCT as if it were a State of the Federation by exercising all functions presently administered by the Minister of the FCT.

On nomination of ministers and commissioners, he said that Sections 147 and 192 of the Constitution were amended to –   Ensure that the President and Governors designate and assign portfolios to persons nominated as ministers or commissioners respectively prior to confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly;

Provide a period of 60 days within which such nominations shall be forwarded to the Senate or State House of Assembly following inauguration; and

Provide 35% representation for women in the appointment of ministers and commissioners.

On the Legislature, he said that Sections 51, 67, 93 and 315 were amended to – Create the National Assembly Service Commission and the State House of Assembly Service Commission and empower the National Assembly and State House of Assembly respectively to provide for the powers and structure of the Commissions through subsequent legislations, and

To make it mandatory for the President to attend a joint meeting of the National Assembly once a year to deliver a State of the Nation Address.

Remove the law-making power of the Executive arm of government under S. 315 because “the extant provision is starkly contrary to Section 4 of the Constitution which confers law-making powers exclusively on the legislature.”

On the Judiciary, he said Sections 233, 237, 247, 251 and Part I of the Third Schedule of the Constitution were amended to- Provide for all appeals from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court to be by leave of the Supreme Court except in the case of Interpretation of the Constitution, death sentences and fundamental human rights.

Allow two justices of the Court of Appeal sitting in chambers to dispose any application for leave to appeal after considering the records of proceedings if the justices believe the interest of justice does not require an oral hearing of the application.

Establish a criminal division of the Federal High Court to try electoral offences, terrorism cases, economic and financial crimes cases etc.

Provide for appeals from the decisions of the National Industrial Court to the Court of Appeal.

Provide for 12 Justices of the Court of Appeal to be learned in Labour and Employment Matters for the purpose of hearing appeals from the National Industrial Court.

Improve the quality of representation in the National Judicial Council.

Put the Code of Conduct Tribunal under the control of the judiciary instead of the executive.

On devolution of powers, he said that the Second Schedule, Part I and II of the Constitution were altered to decongest the Exclusive legislative list to give more powers to states. This enhances the principle of federalism and good governance. It substituted “Post and Telegraphs” with “Post and Telecommunications”, and moved Pensions, Prisons, Railways, Stamp Duties and Wages from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List and added Arbitration, Environment, Healthcare, Housing, Road Safety, pensions, Land and Agriculture, Youths, Public Complaints to the Concurrent List.

The committee also effected local government change of name by amending the First Schedule to change the names of local governments as follows:

“Afikpo North” and “Afikpo South” to “Afikpo” and “Edda” respectively;

“Egbado North” and “Egbado South” to “ Yewa North” and “Yewa South”;

“Obia/Akpor” to “Obio/Akpor”.

Ekweremadu noted that the Senate committee had concluded its assignment; they agreed to wait for the House of Representatives on Constitution review to conclude so that the two committee would harmonize before presenting the final report to the two chambers.

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, asked the committee to work to beat the January 2017 deadline slated for the passage of the Bill.

December 8, 2016
Reps push for financial autonomy for NASS, Judiciary, INEC

…To give State control over mineral resources

The House of Representatives is pushing for financial autonomy for the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, Federal and State Judiciary as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and it’s State version.

The lawmakers have also waded into the resource control controversy by commencing the process of granting States the control of mineral resources in their domain.

This followed the second reading of a bill sponsored by Aminu Shagari (APC, Sokoto) who said the alteration of the 1999 constitution would place the Federal and State legiaalture, the judiciary and INEC on first line charge.

According to him, the two arms of government and INEC would no longer have to rely on the Executive for their finances if they truly want to carry out their statutory responsibilities independently.

The bill is seeking to alter Section 81 of the Constitution by adding two new sub-sections whereby “The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission shall cause and laid before each House of National Assembly, at any time in each financial year, estimates of the revenues and expenditures of the National Assembly, the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission respectively”.

The implication is that the heads of expenditures, proposed for the benefit of the National Assembly, the judiciary and INEC would henceforth be charged upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Consequently, their money bills would be known as Consolidated Charge Fund (National Assembly) bill, Consolidated Charge Fund (Judiciary) bill and Consolidated Charge Fund (INEC) bill.

The bill is also seeking to delete Sub-section 3 of the constitution and replace it with a clause whereby any amount standing to the credit of the National Assembly, ,Judiciary and INEC shall be paid and disbursed directly to the Clerk of the National Assembly, National Judicial Council and Chairman INEC respectively for disbursement and management.

Alteration of Section 121 was meant to effect same changes at State level.

“The essence of the alteration is to allow the legislature, the judiciary and the Electoral Commission at Federal and State prepare their estimates and present it before the Assembly.

“This will allow them to have their budgetary allocations disbursed directly to them.

“The intent of this is to truly make them independent in carrying out their statutory responsibilities and eliminate chances of being compromised.

“It goes without saying that they cannot be independent if they go cap in hand to the Executive every time for thier allocations,” Shagari said.

Similarly, the Minority Leader Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) in his bill for an Act to alter the 1999 constitution to vest the control of the revenues derived from minerals, mineral oils and natural gas, under or upon any land in the State of the Federation, argued that the alteration was to relief the Exclusive List of some unnecessary burden while freeing up States to unlock their potentials.

He also said that the diversification of the economy drive of the government would become meaningful as States would henceforth have the benefit of concentrating on their individual strengths in production.

He said: “Nigeria is blessed with natural resources and there is no State that does not have natural resources they can depend on but monthly allocations from the Federation Account has made everyone lazy.

“If the overloaded Exclusive list is freed up and the Federal government allowed to concentrate on security and the most critical issues, then the States would have the opportunity of specialising in the production of natural resources at their disposal.

“If States would have to give a percentage of the earnings from their resources, every State would grow, if greater opportunity is provided for the States to manage their resources, the economy would grow. This is the foundation for diversification”.

Emmanuel Oker-Jev, said the bill must be supported because it was aiming to accomplish what the 2014 National Conference failed to do on resource control.

The two bills scaled second reading after being put to voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara who referred them to the special ad hoc Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution.

December 7, 2016
Buhari swears in 6 INEC Commissioners, expresses concern over electoral processes

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

“We woo Nigerians to use his Permanent Voters Card (PVC), cross checked by the 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.

The six INEC commissioners sworn in by the president are Okechukwu Obinna Ibeanu (Anambra), May I. Agbamuche-Mbu (Delta) and retired AVM Ahmed Mu’Azu from Gombe state.

Others are Mohammed Kudu Haruna (Niger), Mr Adekunle Ogunmola (Oyo) and Abubakar Nahuche from Zamfara.

December 7, 2016
Be firm, fair, Buhari tasks INEC commissioners

…swears-in six INEC commissioners

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday charged newly sworn in commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be fair and firm in the discharge of their electoral assignments.

He gave the charge during the swearing in ceremony for six commissioners at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The new commissioners, whose appointments have been confirmed by the Senate, are Mohammed Kudu Haruna (North-central), Retired Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Tijani Mu’azu (North-east), Abubakar Nahuche (North-west), Professor Okechukwu Ibeano (South-east); May Agbamuche Mbu, (South-south) and Dr Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola (South-west).

Buhari told them to live up to expectation as his administration is extremely concerned about integrity of electoral processes.

He said: “You are coming on board at a critical time of our political development. I am sure you have truly observed the bye-elections from Kogi to Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo and Ondo. I am sure you are even concerned about the carnage in some of the elections and the resources dissipated.

“This administration is extremely concerned about the integrity of the electoral processes. You are people of great integrity known throughout the country.

“This administration will demand of you to be firm and fair. What this administration expects is that after we have gone, Nigerians will read the political history and know that we served Nigeria.

“We want every Nigerian to use his PVC cross checked by card reader, that they have been given the opportunity and security in their respective constituencies to elect those they want to elect. The rest is left to their conscience and to God,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the commissioners, Ibeano thanked the President and Nigerians for giving them the opportunity to serve the 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,” he added.

December 7, 2016