TheCable

Amina Zakari, the acting chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says she has accepted her appointment with humility, promising to be dedicated in her line of duty.

Speaking during a brief handover ceremony at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja, Zakari promised to work towards the improvement of the country’s electoral process.

“I accept this with humility and an added dedication to serve,” she said, adding that “we hope to see the continued improvement of the electoral processes in the country.”

Upon his exit from the commission on Tuesday, Attahiru Jega handed over the chairmanship of the electoral body to Mohammed Wali, saying he had notified President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to have Wali succeed him.

“I have written to the president to inform him that my tenure was supposed to end yesterday and that I have decided to hand over to one of the national commissioners who is still around until an acting or substantive appointment is made. So I proposed to hand over to Mohammed Wali, who has a relatively longer span,” he had said.

But about six hours after Jega’s departure, Buhari announced Zakari as the new acting chairman.

Haruna Imrana, director of communications in the office of the head of civil service of the federation, made the announcement, saying the appointment takes effect from June 30 until a substantive chairman is appointed.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused of not following due process in the appointment of the INEC chairman, demanding her immediate replacement.