Council Of State Ratifies 6 INEC, 5 NPC Commissioners

From left: Former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; President Muhammadu Buhari; former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; and former President Goodluck Jonathan, during the Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday Image source: The Punch

The Council of State yesterday ratified the appointments of six additional commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Daily Trust report continues:

The meeting, which lasted four hours, was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The newly approved INEC commissioners are Mohammed Haruna (North-central); retired AVM Ahmed Tijani Mu’azu (North-east); Eng. Abubakar Nahuche (North-west); Professor Okechukwu Ibeano (South-east); May Agbamuche Mbu, (South-south) and Dr Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola (South-west).

The Council of State also ratified the appointments of five commissioners of the National Population Commission (NPC). They are; Dr Eyitayo Oyetunji, from Oyo State; Barrister Patricia Iyaya, Benue; Engr. Benedict Ukpong, Akwa Ibom; Dr Halu Bala, Kebbi and Gloria Isofo, Bayelsa.

Briefing State House reporters after the meeting, Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode said: “We deliberated on the appointments of six national commissioners for INEC. You know the INEC is supposed to have 12. We had earlier approved six sometime last year and additional 6 were actually approved today (Wednesday). And those six represent six nominees from the six geo-political zones.
“You may wish to know that we approved the appointments of five new commissioners for the National Population Commission (NPC) in addition to what was actually approved for the INEC.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar and former Head of the Interim National Government Chief Ernest Shonekan attended the meeting.

The meeting was also attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal.

This was the second meeting of the Council of State convened by President Buhari and was the first attended by Jonathan.

Governors in attendance included those of Borno, Yobe, Rivers, Sokoto, Abia, Katsina, Kaduna, Taraba, Enugu, Lagos, Kwara, among others.

A mild drama ensued inside the Council Chambers of the Villa shortly before the meeting began as photographers and cameramen focused attention on Jonathan for about one minute; while Buhari, Osinbajo, governors and other officials in attendance remained standing.