INEC drops 13 resident commissioners

By Okey Ndiribe
ABUJA — Chairman of the  Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has announced the expiration of the tenure of 13 State Resident Electoral Commisioners of the commission.

Jega made the announcement at a farewell dinner organised for the 13 RECs who had served their five-year tenure during the commission’s retreat with RECs which began in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital last Tuesday.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Mr Kayode Idowu, yesterday.

He further said the affected  RECs were those who served in Ebonyi (Humphrey Nwangene), Delta (Dr. Gabriel Ada), Bauchi (Lliya Audu), Akwa Ibom (Kassim Gaidam), Benue (Nasir Ayilara) and Abia (Austin Okojie).

Those who served in Taraba, Gombe and Enugu, Oyo, Taraba, Kebbi,  Kogi and Ogun States were also affected.s
Idowu denied that the affected RECs were sacked but said they could be re-appointed by the Presidency.

He said: “The affected commissioners served with exceptional diligence and integrity, and it was in view of this that the Commission deemed them deserving of a farewell dinner, irrespective of whether or not they would return for further terms. Besides, the Commission is in no legal position to sack RECs.”