Emmanuel Ikechukwu
The President yesterday in Abuja appointed a lady, Amina Bala Zakari from Jigawa State (North West) as the acting chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following Professor Attahiru Jega’s completion of four-year term.
Her appointment which was disclosed in a statement signed by Haruna Imrana, the director of communications for the Head of Civil Service of the Federation takes immediate effect. Zakari, had served as Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health Secretary (the equivalent of a state commissioner) under Nasir El-Rufai, the current governor of Kaduna State, when he was FCT minister. She is to over see the commission pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.
Until her appointment as acting chairman yesterday, Zakari was one of the commissioners working under the supervision of Prof. Jega. Her tenure, as INEC commissioner, was to expire on July 21, 2015.
However, if appointed in substantive capacity and approved by the Senate, she may serve as chairman for, at least, five more years.
Jegga officially bowed out of office as chairman of INEC yesterday and handed over the leadership of the electoral body to Mohammed Wali. Wali, a national commissioner of the commission from Sokoto State, is also expected to retire on August 11, 2015.
