On Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari swore in his second and final five-year term
of office to Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) notes that the swearing-in ceremony took place in the Council Chambers, Presidential
Villa, Abuja, just prior to the beginning of the weekly virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The Senate had on Dec. 1, approved the nomination
of Yakubu for re- election as Chairman of INEC
The confirmation of Yakubu by the Senate followed the presentation by the Chairman,
Sen. Kabiru Gaya, during the plenary session of the report of his INEC Committee.
NAN notes that on Nov. 25, President Buhari forwarded the nomination of
Yakubu for a second term in office to the Senate for confirmation.
On Oct. 27, Buhari reappointed Yakubu
as INEC Chairman for another five-year term.
NAN states that Yakubu is the first chairman in
modern history to be reappointed to lead the board.
Yakubu, who after taking his oath of office spoke to State House correspondents, pledged
to redouble efforts to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.
He reiterated INEC’s determination to collaborate with the National Assembly (NASS) to
ensure that the change to the electoral legal system is promptly adopted.
He said: “We have clearly demonstrated in recent elections that elections are getting better and they will continue to get better.
“The National Assembly is holding a public hearing on the amendment of the electoral legal framework.
“This is important and this time around, working with the National Assembly, we will ensure a speedy passage of the amendment bill and once it is assented to, it will help us enormously in confronting the challenges ahead.
“The preparations for 2023 general elections have proceeded in earnest; we need certainty and therefore the electoral legal framework is fundamental, without which we cannot formulate our regulations and guidelines.
“Without our regulations and guidelines, we cannot conclude work on the manual for the training of ad hoc staff for the elections.
“So from here, I am going to proceed to the National Assembly, so work begins in earnest and we have already started.’’
NAN noted that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the
President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen., are attending the Federal Executive Council (FEC) virtual meeting.
Monguno
babagana.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and Aviation, Sen. Hadi
Sirika, Women’s Affairs, Pauline Tallen and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk, were also physically present at the meeting.
The meeting chamber is also attended by the Ministers of the Federal Capital Region, Mohammed Bello, as well as by the Ministers
of State Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, Mines and Steel Production, Uche Ogah, Works and Housing, Abubakar Aliyu and Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.
Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Service of the Federation, and other
ministers will participate in the meeting online from their different offices in Abuja.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
