The tenure of Professor Attahiru Jega as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will end next Tuesday.
According to INEC Bulletin, Jega will leave office with six other national commissioners who will also have served out their five year term.
Jega and the commissioners were inaugurated by former President Goodluck E. Jonathan on 30th June 2010.
The commissioners affected are: Col. M.K. Hammanga (Rtd), Adamawa state, (North East); Dr Ishmael Jikiri Igbani, Rivers state, (South South); Prof. Lai Olurode, Osun state, (South West); Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor, Abia state, (South East); Mrs Thelma Amata Iremiren, Delta state, (South South); and Engr. Dr. Nuru A. Yakubu, Yobe state, (North East).
Four other National Commissioners are to leave the Commission in July and August this year.
They are: Dr. Abdulkadir S. Oniyangi, Kwara state, (North Central), whose tenure will expire on 21st July 2015; Mrs Amina Bala Zakari, Jigawa state, (North West); whose tenure will also expire on 21st July 2015; Dr Chris O. Iyimoga, Nasarawa state, (North Central); whose tenure will expire on 11th August 2015; and Amb. (Dr.) Mohammed Ahmad Wali, Sokoto state, (North West) whose tenure will also expire on 11th August 2015.
The bulletin has however said stated that activities at the commission would not in anyway be affected by the exit of Jega and the other national commissioners.
It stated: “But even as the Commission is being depleted, following the progressive expiration of the tenures of National Commissioners, its (INEC’s) work will continue apace and uninterrupted because it can always form a quorum.
Citing Section 159 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which states that meetings of the commission can be chaired by another person.
The section states: (1.) The quorum for a meeting of any of the bodies established by section 153 of this Constitution shall be not less than one-third of the total number of members of that body at the date of the meeting.
(2.) A member of such a body shall be entitled to one vote, and a decision of the meeting may be taken and any act or thing may be done in the name of that body by a majority of the members present at the meeting.
(3.) Whenever such body is assembled for a meeting, the Chairman or other person presiding shall, in all matters in which a decision is taken by vote (by whatever name such vote may be called) have a casting as well as a deliberative vote.
(4.) Subject to its rules of procedure, any such body may act or take part in any decision notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership or the absence of any member.”
In the meantime, the tenures of sixteen Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have expired and they have left the Commission last week. A gala night was held in their honour last week Thursday at the Le Meridien Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom. They are: Ahmad Makama, Bauchi state; Haliru A. Tambuwal, Sokoto state; Abdullahi Umar Danyaya, Niger state; Abubakar U.G. Wara, Kebbi state; Mr. Mike Igini, Delta state; Prof. Selina Omagha Oko, Ebonyi state; Hussaini Ahmed Mahuta, Katsina state; Dr. A.L. Ogunmola, Oyo state; Alh. Ibrahim Zarewa, Kano state; Prof. Tukur Sa’ad, Adamawa state; Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, Kogi state; Kassim Gana Gaidam, Yobe state; Mr. Timothy Ibitoye, Osun state; Amb. Dr. Rufus Akeju, Lagos state;Prof. C.E. Onukaogu, Abia state; and Ibrahim Bagobiri Marafa, Zamfara state
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