2019: Free And Fair Elections Depend On These Men

Opposition parties have expressed fears about the possibility of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) conducting a credible election in view of allegations that some of the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have been compromised.

The announcement of Amina Zakari, a niece of President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, as head of the Presidential Election Collation Center, has sparked renewed fears of alleged plot by the ruling party to rig the elections, especially the presidential election, to favour its candidate.

With 42 days left to the next general elections, all eyes would now be on the electoral umpire as it makes preparations for the elections.

Information on INEC’s website indicates that the Commission has confirmed 19 Resident Electoral Commissioners who are expected to work toward transparent and impartial elections across the country in the 2019 election.

It is not immediately clear why the Commission listed only 19 Resident Electoral Commissioners on its website instead of 37, one for each state, including the Federal Capital Territory.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are expected to hold Saturday, February 16, 2019 while the governorship, state assembly and area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will hold on March 2, 2019.

Below are brief profiles of the resident electoral commissioners as seen on INEC’s website.

 

INEC RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONERS:

Ambassador (Dr.) Rufus Oloruntoyin Akeju: Akeju, an indigene of Lagos State, was an Ambassador of Nigeria to Havana, Cuba.  He was appointed Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ondo State in 2010.

Mr Emeka Joseph Ononamadu: The Imo State indigene holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration and is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu.

Dr. MahmudaIsah: He holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) and hails from Kebbi State. He’s the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Jigawa State.

Sadiq Abubakar Musa: Musa hails from Kaduna State and is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Sokoto State. He has worked with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Kaduna, and the Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna. He holds two Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration.

Mr. Sam Olugbadebo Olumekunmni: He was first appointed Resident Electoral Commissioner in 2011 and had served at different times in Ondo, Ekiti and Edo states. He was re-appointed Resident Electoral Commissioner and posted to Lagos in 2017.

Alhaji Umar Ibrahim: Ibrahim, a Taraba indigene, was a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education in the state Civil Service. He is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Gombe State.

Asmau Sani Maikudi: The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Zamfara State hails from Katsina state. She was a lecturer and Head of Social Sciences Department in Kaduna Polytechnic.

Professor Godswill Obioma: Obioma, from Abia State, was a Professor of Mathematics Education and Evaluation at the University of Jos.  He has served as consultant to the World Bank and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is the current Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ebonyi State.

Mutui Olaleke Agboke: The Ogun State indigene holds a Masters in Law and was a part time Lecturer at Mashood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta. He is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ondo State.

Professor James Iorliam Apam: Apam, from Benue state, was a lecturer and Head of Department in Benue State University in the Department of Political Science. He is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Kogi State.

Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji: Orji, who is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra, was a lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. He is presently a Research Fellow at the Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria.

Prof Francis Chukwuemeka Ezeonu: Ezeonu is a Professor of Applied Biochemistry; and Drug & Pharmaceutical Chemistr. He is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State.

Dr Briyi Frankland: Frankland from Bayelsa state is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Cross River State. He’s a former Airforce Officer who later became a Senior Lecturer at the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State.

Professor Riskuwa Arabu Shehu: Shehu, from Sokoto State, was a Vice-Chancellor at the Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. He is currently the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Jigawa State.

Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi: Abdullahi is an indigene of Adamawa state and a former official of the Department of State Services (DSS). He was the Director in charge of National Assembly Liaison between 2015 and 2016. He is currently the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Bauchi State.

Dr Joseph Valentine Chuks Iloh: An indigene of Enugu State, was the Dean, School of of Financial Studies, at the Institute Of Management And Technology (IMT) Enugu. He’s the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Abia State.

Obo O. Effanga: The Cross River born lawyer is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State.

Kassim g. Gaidam: Gaidam, from Yobe State, was a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state. He was appointed Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa in 2017. He had previously served as Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa, Edo and Gombe States between 2010 and 2015.

 

Mallam Hussaini Halilu Pai: Pai, a former Executive Director of FCT Primary Education Board, is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Plateau state. He previously served as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State from 2011 and 2014.