By Uche Onyeali
President Bola Tinubu yesterday swore in new national commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The swearing-in ceremony took place ahead of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The newly sworn-in National Commissioners include Abdulrazak Tukur, representing the North West zone, and Sunday Aja, representing the South East.
Tinubu also swore in board members of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.
The board members are Ikpeme Ndem from Cross River and Buba Nyaure from Taraba State.
Speaking after the event, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu described the appointments as a crucial step toward restoring the commission’s full operational capacity.
“With these appointments, we now have almost the full complement of commissioners,” he said.
Yakubu said the commission’s ongoing collaboration with the national assembly on electoral reforms is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
“We are actively working with the National Assembly on electoral reforms that will improve the electoral process and deepen democracy in Nigeria,” he said.
Yakubu also dismissed the claims of his removal from office, calling such rumours “unnecessary speculation.”
“I remain the Chairman of INEC in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act. Any speculation about my removal is unfounded,” he said.
