Topic: Buhari Appoints Woman As Replacement for Jega; Meet Her

Prof. Attahiru Jega on Tuesday bowed
out of office as the Chairman of INEC.
Consequently, the president,
Muhammadu Buhari, has appointed
Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari, as acting
chairman of the body.
Mrs. Zakari, the first female to occupy
the position albeit in an acting
capacity, was until Tuesday, a
National Electoral Commissioner at
INEC.
A statement issued by the Director
Communications in the Office of Head
of Civil Service of the Federation,
Alhaji Haruna Imrana, on behalf of
the HoS, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, confirmed
the appointment.
Kifasi said Zakari’s appointment was
with immediate effect.
She would be in office from June 30,
2015, until the appointment of a
substantive chairman.
Jega was appointed the chairman of
the commission by President Goodluck
Jonathan on June 30, 2010. He
conducted two elections in 2011 and
2015.
Speaking briefly at the end of the
closed-door handing over ceremony at
the commission in Abuja, Jega said the
future of the country and commission
was bright.
He said he was grateful to God and the
country for the opportunity to serve.
Prof. Jega said, “We feel great; we
thank God Almighty for the
opportunity to serve the country. The
future is bright for the commission
and the country. In whatever we have
achieved, we should keep it up and do
more.”