INEC: Yakubu hands over to Mu’azu as acting chairman

The re-nominated Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday handed over to retired Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Mu’azu, as the acting chairman of the commission.

Retired Air Vice-Marshal Ahmed Mu’azu was born on 6th September 1957 at Gombe, Gombe State.

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Who is Ahmed Mu’azu?

He had his early education in Gombe, Kaduna and Maiduguri between 1964 -1975.

He joined the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as a Potential Pilot in June 1976 and was commissioned Pilot Officer into Air Traffic Control (ATC) Specialty in 1979.

He rose steadily and progressively through to the heist professional rank of Air Vice Marshal (AVM) in 2007. He voluntarily retired from the service of NAF in 2013.

He also attended the senior command and staff course at Ghana Armed Forces Staff College (GAFSC) Teshie, Accra 1991–1992, finishing well above average with a strong recommendation for appointment as Directing Staff.

The INEC National Commissioner representing north-east and supervising Adamawa, Taraba and Borno states is married with children and grandchildren and chose poultry farming and long-range driving as his hobbies.

He is the chairman of the INEC Tenders Board (TB) Committee.

Tenure of Commissioners

Speaking before handing over to Mu’azu, Yakubu recalled that the current commission was inaugurated in three batches.

According to him, he and five commissioners were sworn-in on 9th of November 2015, followed by another six commissioners on 7th of December 2016 and one more commissioner on 21st July 2018.

Yakubu said that the commission is a constitutional body whose members are appointed for five years which may be renewed for a second and final term.

“This means that my tenure and that of the first set of five Commissioners ends today. As you are already aware, the renewal of my tenure as chairman of the commission has been announced, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

“Our work as election managers requires us to enforce the law, regulations and guidelines. In doing so, we must demonstrate strict respect for, and compliance with, the Constitution of Nigeria and subsidiary laws,” Yakubu said.

He added that consequently, it will be inappropriate for him to remain in office beyond Monday, 9th November 2020, without confirmation by the Senate and swearing to another oath of office as provided by law.

Yakubu said, “Pending the conclusion of the statutory process, the remaining National Commissioners have resolved that AVM Ahmed Mu’azu (rtd) will oversee the affairs of the Commission. It is therefore my pleasure to hand over to him in the interim. We have worked as a team for the last four years. Therefore, there is nothing new to anyone of them.”

He expressed appreciation for the support of the commission members, the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), the Secretary to the Commission, the Director-General of the Electoral Institute, Directors, members of the technical team, heads of the various security agencies deployed to INEC and all staff of the commission nationwide.

He also expressed optimism that he look forward to working with them again.

Daily Trust reports that Yakubu, whose first tenure ended on Monday, November 9, was re-appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 27 as the chairman of the commission for a record second term in office.

The reappointment is, however, subject to a Senate confirmation after its resumption of plenary on November 24.

Yakubu was first appointed INEC chairman in November 2015 to succeed Attahiru Jega, who supervised the 2015 general election.

Yakubu supervised the 2019 General Election and off-cycle elections in states in Kogi, Edo and Ondo states.

“I’ll be diligent”

Responding, retired AVM Mu’azu, said he has accepted the responsibility reposed on him.

He said that all the national commissioners at one point or another have acted in the absence of the chairman (Yakubu)

“I want to assure you that I will handle the affairs of the commission with due diligence,” Mu’azu said.

Daily Trust reports that apart from Yakubu, the five National Commissioners, retiring from INEC were Mrs Amina Bala Zakari (Jigawa) who had acted as INEC chairman before Yakubu took over, representing the North-west; Prof. Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbine (Kogi), North-central; Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (Borno), North-east; Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Lecky (Edo), South-south and Prince Adedeji Solomon Soyebi (Ogun), South-west.