A new Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir. Etekamba Umoren has been sworn-in by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. This was disclosed via a press release tagged ‘Swearing-in And Deployment Of A New Resident Electoral Commissioner’ and signed by Sam Olumekun mni, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.
According to the release, Etekamba from Akwa Ibom State was sworn in during a regular weekly meeting of the Commission.
The statement dated January 30, 2024 read “Commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Tuesday 30th January 2024. The meeting was preceded by the swearing-in of Mr. Etekamba Udo Umoren as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and deployed to Delta State following the expiration of the tenure of the last holder of the office yesterday, Monday 29th January 2024.
An indigene of Akwa Ibom State, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Benin.
“Umoren served in various capacities in the Akwa Ibom State civil service, rising to the position of Permanent Secretary.
The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, urged the new REC to adhere strictly to his oath of office which requires neutrality and impartiality in the discharge of his duties. He also enjoined the new REC to abide by the Commission’s Code of Conduct and sustain regular consultations with stakeholders”.
It would be recalled that Etekamba’s nomination late last year, was greeted by controversies with many accusing him allegedly of being a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Information gathered by our paper is to the effect that some antagonists of Etekamba’s appointment had reportedly filed suits in court challenging his appointment.