BAYELSA GETS NEW RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER.

A new resident electoral commissioner has been sworn in. He is Monday Udo Tom. The swearing-in of the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) came after the nomination and confirmed by the Senate last week.

The appointment of Elder Monday Udo Tom from Akwa Ibom State brings the total number of RECs nationwide to 36 out 37 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The INEC boss in his address said “The Commission is awaiting the confirmation and appointment of the nominee for Osun State.

The new REC who has just been sworn-in today holds a BSc. degree in Biological Science and a Master’s degree in Microbiology. He served as lecturer and civil servant in Akwa Ibom State.

Let me, therefore, congratulate Elder Monday Udo Tom on your appointment. As I told your colleagues on the occasion of their swearing-in as Resident Electoral Commissioners, you will also be responsible for the implementation of the Commission’s policies. In doing so, you will exercise supervisory control over personnel, resources as well the legal and administrative processes in the State to which you are posted. You will also interact with various categories of stakeholders. In doing so, you must maintain the required openness and consultation. At the same time, you must be very firm and courageous on the side of the law as well as our regulations and guidelines at all times as required of an unbiased umpire.

Furthermore, as a REC, you can be posted to any part of the country at any time as the exigencies of service require. For now, you will be posted to a State within your geo-political zone but you will never serve in you State of origin throughout your tenure. In line with this principle, you are hereby deployed to Bayelsa State.

Your appointment is coming just 16 days to the 2019 General Elections. We have already implemented 10 out of the 14 activities in our timetable and schedule of activities. The final list of candidates for Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections will be published in all our State offices nationwide and the Commission’s website, tomorrow Thursday 31st January 2019.

Once again, I congratulate the new REC and we look forward to working with you in the best interest of our democracy”.