By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
ABUJA: Professor Mahmood Yakubu has assumed office for a second term as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Yakubu, who was first sworn in on November 9, 2015, was again sworn in for a second term on Wednesday by President Muhammadu Buhari, following his clearance by the Senate.
Speaking at a brief ceremony to formally take over affairs of the Commission, he pledged to discharge his responsibility without bias.
According to him, “We will continue to discharge our responsibilities to the father land. Our work continues, the quick passage of the electoral Act Amendment is a top priority and we will be happy if the electoral Act Amendment is passed by the end of March 2021”.
He further noted that the immediate area of attention for the Commission is the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise also in the first quarter of 2021, which is expected to continue at least until six months to the 2023 general elections, adding that INEC hopes to introduce a new technology for voter enrollment in 2021.
“We will also seize the opportunity as required by law to update and clean up the voter register. We are happy with the register of voters, but will continue to seek ways to improve the quality of the register as the credibility of any democratic election draws from the credibility of the register of voters.
“Without a clean credible register of voters, you can’t have a credible democratic election”, he said.
He thanked Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Mu’azu and the five National Commissioners for overseeing the affairs of the Commission over the last 31 days
Speaking earlier, AVM Mu’azu congratulated Prof. Yakubu on his reappointment, and explained that INEC was confronted with several challenges, especially security during the bye-elections.
He expressed dismay over the loss of six police personnel who drowned in Bayelsa State during the just concluded bye-elections.
Yakubu had on November 9, 2020 handed over affairs of the commission to a National Commissioner, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Muazu (retd).
