By Hosea parah, Abuja

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu on Thursday sworn in 19 newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

At the INEC headquarters in Abuja, venue of the event, Yakubu charged the newly sworn in RECs to devote their loyalty to Nigeria and not to compromise the integrity of the commission.

He also deployed the 19 RECs to their geopolitical zones but outside their states of origin, in line with INEC’s regulation that forbids a commissioner from serving in his or her home state.

Five of the 19 RECs are returning commissioners who were reappointed by President Muhammadu Buhari and approved by the Senate.

The renewal nominees confirmed include Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa); Obo Effanga (Cross River); Umar Ibrahim (Taraba); Agboke Olaleke (Ogun); and Professor Samuel Egwu (Kogi).

Those confirmed for fresh appointment are Onyeka Ugochi (Imo); Muhammad Bashir (Sokoto); Ayobami Salami, a professor, (Oyo); Zango Abdu (Katsina); Queen Agwu (Ebonyi); and Agundu Tersoo (Benue); Yomere Oritsemlebi (Delta); Yahaya Ibrahim, a professor, (Kaduna); Nura Ali (Kano); Agu Uchenna (Enugu); Ahmed Garki (FCT); Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi); Uzochukwu Chijioke, a professor, (Anambra); and Mohammed Nura (Yobe).