8 commissioners to go in INEC

Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 23.07.2008

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is about being purged of most of its experienced commissioners as indications are rife that not less than eight of them would bow out at the end of August.

The INEC commissioners would be leaving at the end of the month during which they are expected to have completed their term of five years in the service of the commission.

Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that all the outgoing commissioners were drawn from each of the six geo-political zones of the federation.

With the development, each of the states losing its commissioners in INEC is expected to make a replacement by nominating qualified candidates at the expiration of tenure the serving commissioners.

There are 12 commissioners in INEC, two having been appointed from each geo-political zones and with a constitutional five-year term mandate.

All the commissioners are currently on tour of the geo-political zones of the federation in connection with the on-going delimitation of federal constituencies’ exercise.

Prominent among the commissioners expected to bow out of INEC at the end of August include Ekpeyong Nsa, Esther Salla, Emmanuel Ochalla, Mohammed Abubakar, Olorunimbe Farunkanmi and three others.