Senate confirms Prof. Yakubu as INEC chairman

Friday Ajagunna
Friday Ajagunna
Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu and five commissioners nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The new INEC commissioners are – Dr. Anthonia Okoosi Simbine, Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo, Amina Zakari Mohammed, Mustapha Lecky and Soyebi Solomon.

They were confirmed after the screening exercise that took place at the Senate Chamber on Thursday.

The Council of States, at its meeting last week, gave its nod to their nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Yakubu, a professor of history and international studies, from Bauchi State, will now succeed Attahiru Jega, who concluded his five year tenure on June 30.

He was the executive secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund also a member of the 2014 National Conference where he headed the finance and administration section at its secretariat.

Before their approval by the senate, the new INEC chairman and the national commissioners had fielded questions from the senators at the Committee of the Whole, as part of the screening.

During the exercise, Yakubu assured that he would ensure transparent and credible electoral process during his five year tenure.

According to him, never again would elections be won and lost at INEC headquarters or its state offices.

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