Photo:Presidency Rejects Wali, Appoints Mrs Zakari as Acting Chairman

Outgoing Chairman handing over to Amb. Ahmed Wali yesterday At INEC Headquarters, Abuja

The former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega,had formally handed over to Amb. Ahmed Wali as acting chairman of the electoral body yesterday at the expiration of his appointment as the Chairman of the INEC.

Prof.Jega, who was appointed five years ago by former President Goodluck Jonathan, bowed out with six national commissioners [Cojl. M.K. Hammanga (Adamawa), Dr Ishmael Igbani (Rivers), Prof. Lai Olurode (Osun), Dame Gladys Nwafor (Abia), Mrs Thelma Iremiren (Delta) and Dr Nuru Yakubu (Yobe] , who were appointed the same day with him.
While Speaking with newsmen shortly after he bowed out, 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.”

Vanguard reports Wali was selected because his tenure will expire on August 11 with the hope that by then  the government may have taken a decision on who to give the responsibility of running the commission for the next five years.
However, after about eight hours as acting chairman, Wali was replaced as acting chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari who designated another national commissioner, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari as acting chairman.
The Head of Service of the federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi in a statement announced President Buhari’s decision to appoint Mrs. Zakari as acting national chairman of the commission. He said the appointment is with effect from June 30, 2015 until the appointment of a substantive chairman.
Mrs Zakari is senior to Wali and she is due for retirement July 31.