The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, on Friday sworn in six newly appointed Resident Electoral Officers (RECs), urging them to always be guided by the electoral legal framework.
Yakubu emphasised the importance of following the code of conduct for RECs and adhering to the regulations and guidelines governing the Commission’s operations.
“As you assume or resume duty, I urge you to focus on your responsibilities.
“Let me make it clear from the outset that you must at all times be guided by the electoral legal framework, the code of conduct for RECs, as well as the regulations and guidelines governing the Commission’s operations, ” he said.
Yakubu also stressed the need for the RECs to act in good conscience and engage with stakeholders through regular consultative meetings.
“Above all, you must always act in good conscience. Do not betray your oath of office.
”In the best tradition of the Commission, you must engage with stakeholders through regular consultative meetings and must not be impervious to genuine criticisms,” he said.
The newly appointed RECs include Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem and Mukhtar Umar Gajiram, who were reappointed for a second term, and Chukwuemeka Christopher Ibeziako, a private legal practitioner, and Umar Yusuf Garba, with years of experience in the private sector.
Meanwhile, Yakubu also announced that INEC has fixed the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states for Saturday, June 20 and Saturday, August 8, 2026, respectively.
He provided details on the timetable and schedule of activities for the elections, including party primaries, nomination forms, and campaign periods.
The INEC chairman assured Nigerians that the Commission was finalising preparations for pending bye-elections and the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide.
A detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the Ekiti and Osun State governorship elections have been uploaded to the INEC website and social media platforms.
