INEC Delays Swearing-In of New Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom"

Waiting for Current Commissioner’s Tenure to End:

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, confirmed that Etekamba Umoren will not assume office until the current REC, Monday Udo-Tom, completes his tenure in January 2024.

Interview with Sam Olumekun:

Speaking with Premium Times, Sam Olumekun emphasized that the new REC will only be able to take on his responsibilities after the tenure of the existing commissioner comes to an end.

Avoiding Concurrent Commissioners from the Same State:

Rotimi Oyekanmi, the spokesperson to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, explained that having two RECs from the same state of origin serving concurrently would be unusual.

Transition in Leadership:

Oyekanmi clarified that the newly appointed Akwa Ibom REC’s tenure would only become effective once the current commissioner’s term concludes in January of the following year.

Establishing a Precedent:

Oyekanmi suggested that the practice of appointing a new REC before the expiration of the current one’s tenure could set a positive precedent. It ensures a smooth transition and avoids any gaps in leadership.

Conclusion:

The article concludes by highlighting the importance of the sequential approach to the appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners and its potential benefits in maintaining continuity and efficiency in electoral processes.