The outgoing Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, will on Monday hand over to an acting Chairman who will pilot the affairs of the commission till the Senate confirms his re-nomination or otherwise.
While President Muhammadu Buhari has re-nominated Yakubu and sent his name to the Senate for confirmation, his first tenure expires on Monday November 9.
He is expected to hand over to one of the National Commissioners, among those whose tenure has not expired.
Five other commissioners have served two terms and are not eligible for re-nomination or appointment.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, confirmed the development.
“The Hon Chairman’s (Yakubu) handing over ceremony to be held on Monday 9th November 2020 at the Conference Hall, INEC Headquarters,” Oyekanmi said.
Decision on bye-elections
Meanwhile, the commission said that it will meet with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Thursday, 12th November 2020 to decide on a date for the conduct of the 15 by-elections.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye, said this Thursday night after the management meeting of the commission.
He recalled that the commission met on 22 October with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to deliberate on the 15 outstanding bye-elections in 11 states of the Federation earlier scheduled for 31st October 2020.
According to him, due to the security situation in the country at the time, the commission decided to suspend the bye-elections and meet in two weeks to review its decision.
“The commission suffered extensive damage to and vandalism of its local government offices and facilities, including the areas where the bye-elections are scheduled to hold.
“It is important to consult all the critical stakeholders in the electoral process before deciding on a definite date for the conduct of the bye-elections,” Okoye said.
He said that the commission would consult with political parties and civil society organisations on Tuesday 10 November 2020 and then with the media and Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) on Wednesday 11 November 2020.
He said: “The commission will thereafter meet again with the RECs on Thursday, 12 November 2020 to decide on a date for the conduct of the bye-elections.”
The postponed 15 bye-elections in 11 states, earlier slated for October 31, were postponed over the #EndSARS Nationwide protests.
The affected districts and constituencies are Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Bayelsa West Senatorial District; Nganzai State Constituency, Borno State; Bayo State Constituency, Borno State; Cross River North Senatorial District; and Obudu State Constituency, Cross River State.
Others are; Imo North Senatorial District; Lagos East Senatorial District; Kosofe II State Constituency, Lagos State; Plateau South Senatorial District; Bakura State Constituency, Zamfara State; Ibaji State Constituency, Kogi State; Isi-Uzo State Constituency, Enugu State and Bakori State Constituency, Katsina State.
