by Emmanuel Oloniruha
Abuja – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday swore in Amb. Rufus Akeju as new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), bringing the total number in the commission to 26.
Akeju, from Lagos, who previously served as REC under the previous Commission that conducted the 2015 general elections, took the oath of office at INEC headquarters in Abuja.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who welcomed Akeju, urged him to re-familiarise himself with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
He also urged him to re-familiarise himself with the Commission’s strategic plan 2017-2021 for effective discharge of duties.
Yakubu said the REC was assuming office at a time that the commission had released Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 general elections.
He advised Akeju to ensure no citizen was disenfranchised in the on-going nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which he said was in its fourth quarter.
Responding, the commissioner affirmed his commitment to the discharge of his duties.
He said “as I take up my appointment with renewed gusto, I hereby pledge, as always, to discharge my responsibilities with integrity, patriotism, impartiality, transparency and without fear or favour.”
He pledged to contribute to the advancement of the work of the commission to meet international standard of electioneering. (NAN)
