JUST IN: Buhari Swears In Mahmood Yakubu As First INEC Chair To Be Reappointed

President Buhari has sworn in Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC) for the second and final five-year term in office.

BIGPENNGR.COM reports that Buhari conducted the swearing in just before the weekly virtual Federal Executive Council meeting in the Council Chambers at the State House, Abuja on Wednesday.

The Senate had on December 1 confirmed the nomination of Yakubu, a professor, for re- appointment as Chairman of INEC.

Yakubu’s confirmation by the Senate followed the presentation of the report of its Committee on INEC by its Chairman, Kabiru Gaya, during plenary.

Buhari had on November 25, transmitted to the Senate for confirmation, the nomination of Mr Yakubu for a second term in office. Buhari reappointed Mr Yakubu as Chairman of INEC for another five-year term on October 27.

Yakubu is the first chair to be reappointed to head the commission in recent history.

According to NAN report, Yakubu, who spoke to State House correspondents after taking his oath of office, pledged to redouble efforts towards ensuring the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.

He reiterated the commitment of INEC to partner with the National Assembly (NASS) in ensuring speedy passage of the amendment of the electoral legal framework.

He said: “We have clearly demonstrated in recent elections that elections are getting better and they will continue to get better.

“The National Assembly is holding a public hearing on the amendment of the electoral legal framework.

“This is important and this time around, working with the National Assembly, we will ensure a speedy passage of the amendment bill and once it is assented to, it will help us enormously in confronting the challenges ahead.

“The preparations for 2023 general elections have proceeded in earnest; we need certainty and therefore the electoral legal framework is fundamental, without which we cannot formulate our regulations and guidelines.

“Without our regulations and guidelines, we cannot conclude work on the manual for the training of ad hoc staff for the elections.

“So from here, I am going to proceed to the National Assembly, so work begins in earnest and we have already started.’’

NAN reports that the virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is being attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno.

Other members of the cabinet physically attending the meeting include Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq.