PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday swore in six newly appointed national commissioners of the Independent National Commission (INEC), demanding that they must ensure the conducts of future elections in the country are free and fair.
Speaking at the ceremony inside Aso Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he observed that the commissioners were coming in at a critical time and drew their attention to the contentious elections recently held in parts of the country.
The new commissioners are Ogunmola Ladipo, May Agbamuche, Abubakar Nahuche, Okechukwu Ibianu, Mohammed Haruna and Ahmed Muazu.
The president said his administration was concerned about the integrity of elections in the country and wanted to leave a legacy of good governance when it leaves power.
The president said: “You are coming on board at a critical time of our political development.
“I am sure you have truly observed the bye-elections from Kogi to Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo and Ondo. I am sure you are even concerned about the carnage in some of the elections and the resources dissipated.
“This administration is extremely concerned about the integrity of the electoral processes. You are people of great integrity known throughout the country.
“This administration will demand of you to be firm and fair. What this administration expects is that after we have gone, Nigerians will read the political history and know that we served Nigeria.
“We want every Nigerian to use his PVC cross checked by card reader, that they have been given the opportunity and security in their respective constituencies to elect those they want to elect.
“The rest is left to their conscience and to God.”
Speaking on behalf of the new commissioners, Ibeano thanked the president and Nigerians for “this special and challenging opportunity to serve this country.”
He promised that they would discharge their responsibilities and functions as contained in their oath of office.
He sought the support and prayers of the government and people of Nigeria “so that we can discharge our functions to the best of our abilities and contribute to improve the advances and achievements that have been recorded in our electoral processes so far.”
In a chat with State House correspondents after the ceremony, the Chairman INEC, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, said it was important that the commission had its full complement of national commissioners.
“In a very important way, we have a full complement of ‎commissioners. Six additional commoners are coming on board. It’s not just the number that is important to us but the expertise that they are bringing.”
On the Rivers State rerun election scheduled for Saturday, he expressed surprise at reports of printing of fake sensitive election materials in the state.
While disassociating INEC from the act, he affirmed that the case was being investigated by security agencies. According to him, “I learnt about it that somebody was printing sensitive electoral materials in Rivers. First, we have no…of printing sensitive material in the state where elections is conducted.
“At the time the allegation was made we had not even awarded the contract for the printing of the sensitive materials. So, it came as a huge surprise to us. But we have gone ahead to invite the police and the State Security Service to investigate the matter because we are also interested in getting to the bottom of it.
“But is really strange to say that INEC will print fake materials for elections. It’s like accusing the Central Bank of printing fake Naira notes. Who has the original?”