ABUJA -The Council of State yesterday in Abuja approved the appointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state made this known while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council’s meeting, which President Muhammadu Buhari presided over.
“The situation in INEC as at today is such that requires for this emergency meeting to approve the nominations by Mr President because the law requires that a minimum of four commissioners should form a quorum in INEC, which is not the case presently because the tenures if 11 of national commissioners of INEC had expired.
“In line with this, the council considered and confirmed the appointments of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of INEC; Mrs. Amina Zakari as member representing North West; Dr Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbile as Commissioner representing North Central; Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo, (from Borno) as Commissioner representing North East; Dr, Mohammed Mustapha Lekki from Edo as Commissioner representing South South; and Mr Soyebi Adedeji Solomon (from Ogun) as Commissioner representing South West.
Tambuwal stated that Buhari acted within the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which conferred on him the power to appoint a Chairman and National Commissioners in consultation with the Council of State.
Accordingly, he said, the council received a memo on three nominations of Chairman and five Commissioners for INEC.
Tambuwal explained that the situation in INEC was such that it required an emergency meeting to approve the nominations by the President.
The governor further explained that the law stipulated that a minimum of four commissioners should form a quorum in INEC, but that it was not the case at the moment because the tenures of 11 National Commissioners had expired.
He said that the council had agreed to stagger the confirmation of the appointments of commissioners given the situation whereby the tenures of individual commissioners expired almost at the same time.
“To avert future occurrence of such a situation, the council has agreed that the next six of the commissioners should be submitted subsequently for its approval.
“These names have been approved and will be transmitted to the National Assembly for confirmation.’’
He said that the Kogi and Bayelsa polls did not come up for discussion at the meeting because the matter was strictly within INEC’s field of activity.
On who will supervise the elections in the two states, Tambuwal said, “obviously the new chairman and members of the commission.
“I have said earlier that we need a quorum for the commission to function and that is why Mr President in his wisdom summoned this emergency meeting for us to approve these names.
“So, I am sure it is the new chairman that will now supervise and conduct the elections in Kogi and Bayelsa.’’
The new INEC Chairman takes over from Amina Zakari, who has been acting as Chairman of the Commission since June when Prof. Attahiru Jega completed his tenure.
Meanwhile, the Council of State yesterday commended former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, for his exemplary performance in office.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, disclosed this to journalists at the end of the meeting in Abuja yesterday.
He said the commendation was given at a meeting of the council, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The council, chaired by the President, has Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Presidents and Heads of State; President of Senate; Speaker, House of Representatives; former Chief Justices of Nigeria and Governors among others, as members.
Shehu said the council was full of praise for Jega for presiding over elections that were generally accepted as free and fair worldwide.
He said the President directed the council secretariat to note the commendations.
“The council noted and commended Jega for his laudable activities as the chairman of INEC.
“The President directed that the secretariat should note the commendations.
“A letter of commendation may later be sent to the former boss of INEC’’, he said.
The meeting was attended by former President Ibrahim Babangida, former Heads of State Yakubu Gowon, Abubakar Abdulsalami and Chief Ernest Shonekan.

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