The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday told its staff nationwide to be firm and fair in their dealings with political parties and candidates.

The commission also informed its new appointees to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law.

Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this while welcoming three new National Commissioners inaugurated by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the Commissions Headquarters, in Abuja.

The National Commissioners are Dr Baba Bila (North-East); Prof. Sani Adam (North-Central) and Prof. Abdullahi Abdu (North-West).

At the event, Sa’idu Ahmad, a Professor of Comparative Literature from Bayero University, Kano, was also sworn in as Resident Electoral Commissioner. Ahmad from Jigawa State was deployed to Zamfara State as REC.

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Yakubu said, “Our success in this arduous task also draws from our integrity as election managers.

“We must be strict in the application of the law firm in handling the public trust bestowed on us and fair in our dealings with political parties and candidates.

“We must remember that in discharging our responsibilities, Nigeria and Nigerians must always come first. We must abide by our oaths of office to defend the choice made by Nigerians at the polls in all elections and continue to protect the sanctity of the vote without which democratic election is meaningless.”