The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has warned the newly sworn-in 19 Resident Electoral Commissioners not to be visitors to State government houses.
Yakubu also warned them against unofficial meetings with politicians, even after official working hours.
He spoke on Thursday at the Swearing-in ceremony for the new 19 RECs that were recently cleared by the senate.
The 19 RECs who were cleared by the Senate recenkty were sworn-in on Thursday in Abuja.
Yakubu in his remarks, reminded the new and the returning RECs that they are responsible to the people.
He stressed that they hold their loyalty to Nigerians and not any individual.
He said, “Furthermore, you will also interact with various stakeholders. You should maintain the established practice of consultation with them. However, in dealing with the general public, you should be guided by the provisions of the Commission’s Code of Conduct. You should not be visitors to Government Houses and must never hold unofficial meetings with politicians, even after official working hours.
“All matters pertaining to official responsibilities should be conducted in the office attended by the relevant staff and properly documented. This is your best protection against mischief. Do not compromise the neutrality of the Commission or create the perception of partisanship.
“In discharging your responsibilities, you must at all times be transparent and non-partisan while remaining firm and courageous. You owe nothing to any individual but owe everything to the Nigerian people. We must continue to ensure that the choices they make on Election Day prevail. It is their decision. We are only administering the process in trust supported by technology. On this note, let me once again emphasise that the only means of voter accreditation during the 2023 General Election is the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) while results will be uploaded to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) in real-time on Election Day as provided by law.”
He further said, “As I welcome you to the Commission, I urge you settle down quickly and familiarise yourselves with the demands of your new responsibilities, always bearing in mind our commitment to free, fair, credible, transparent and verifiable elections.
” exactly 113 days to the 2023 General Election, we are aware that the task ahead of us is not easy but we must never disappoint Nigerians. 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. There should be no deviation from this path of honour and integrity.”
Of the 19 RECs, fourteen are fresh appointees while five were re-appointed for their second and final term.
