The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu on Thursday sworn in 19 newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
Five of the 19 RECs are returning commissioners who were reappointed by President Muhammadu Buhari and approved by the Senate.
Speaking at the event in Abuja,the INEC Chairman charged the newly sworn in RECs to devote their loyalty to Nigeria and not to compromise the integrity of the commission.
He said “Our loyalty is to Nigeria and our allegiance is to Nigerians. Only their votes should determine winners in the 2023 General Election. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“You should not be visitors to Government Houses and must never hold unofficial meetings with politicians, even after official working hours. Do not compromise the neutrality of the Commission.”
He also deployed the 19 RECs to their geopolitical zones but outside their states of origin, in line with INEC’s regulation that forbids a commissioner from serving in his or her home state.
