Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the appointment of Sam Olumekun as its new national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee.

The electoral body announced Olumekun’s assumption of office on Tuesday in a statement issued in Abuja.

Olumekun’s appointment marked the end of Festus Okoye’s five-year tenure as INEC’s national commissioner for information and voter education.

Okoye’s tenure, which began on July 25, 2018, as representative of the south-east geopolitical zone in the commission, came to an end on July 24, 2023.

According to  Section 155(1)(c) of the constitution, national commissioners of INEC hold a five-year tenure and are eligible for a second term of five years. 

However, Okoye’s tenure was not renewed by President Bola Tinubu.

The process of appointing a new INEC chairman and commissioners involves nomination by the president, ratification by the council of state, and confirmation by the senate.

As of September 2022, Olumekun was the INEC national commissioner in charge of the election and party monitoring committee.

In his new role, he will oversee public awareness, voter education, and the dissemination of information about electoral matters and INEC.

The Cable