2023: Electoral Umpires who Quit INEC for Partisan Politics By Kabir Akintayo
Apparently tired of watching the proceedings as electoral umpires, officials and staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are now joining the political fray.
An investigation by POLITICS DIGEST shows that some former Resident Electoral Commissions, RECs, INEC National Commissioners and even an erstwhile National Chairman of INEC, in recent years, delved into the country’s murky water of politics.
The ex-INEC staff, further checks by Politics Digest, indicate vied for various elective positions, in some of the elections conducted in the country, not too long ago. There were others who also became active members of some political parties.
Though only one of them will have his name on the ballot in the forthcoming polls, Politics Digest hereby profiles the notable INEC officials and electoral umpires who are now full-time politicians and key political actors in the country.
*Attahiru Muhammadu Jega*
The former INEC Chairman spearheaded two different presidential elections. He was appointed by the former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2010, succeeding Professor Maurice Iwu, who vacated the post on 28 of April, 2010. He conducted the 2011 general election that produced Jonathan and also the 2015 election, where President Muhammadu Buhari, defeated the incumbent.
Jega, before his appointment as INEC Chairman, was the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano.
Born in Kebbi state in the year 1957, he attended Sabon Gari Town Primary School, Jega, between 1963 and 1969, and proceeded to Government Secondary School, Birnin Kebbi, and then was admitted into Bayero University College, Kano in 1974, then, the University was under Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where he graduated with a Second-Class Upper Division BSc degree in Political Science in 1979.
He worked as a teaching assistant at Bayero University, then won a fellowship at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois in the United States (1981–1984) where he earned a PhD in Political Sciences. He returned to the Political Science Department in Bayero University in 1984 as a lecturer.
He was appointed, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Bayero University (1995–1996) and Director, Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Bayero University (2000–2004). Jega later became Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University in 2005. He is currently a member of the International Elections Advisory Council, and member of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP.
During his time as the INEC Chairman, introduced card reader for 2015 election, brought many developments to the commission. He was able to conduct a freest and fairest election in the country and his ability to managed a purported chaos during the final coalition of the election earned him more recognitions internationally.
*Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda*
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Dr Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda is a digital system and energy engineering expert. He is also a community developer and a lecturer with the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, with over 29 years of experience working as a consultant with the international development partners, and the public and private sectors.
He was born in Dungung, Kanke LG to the family of a clergy, Late Rev and Mrs Toma Yilwatda on the 8th of August, 1968.
Dr. Yilwatda’s educational career started with him passing the first school leaving certificate at LGED Primary School, Dungung in 1981 and GCE (O/Level) in 1986 from the prestigious Boys’ Secondary School, Gindiri.
He got his first degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering in 1992 from Federal University Agriculture, Makurdi and his Master of Engineering and PhD from ATBU Bauchi and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, respectively where he specialized in Digital systems engineering.
Dr Yilwatda started his working career as an Assistant Lecturer in 1995, in the Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkinladi after which he moved to Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi as a Graduate Assistant in 1996. In the University system, he has over 25 years of teaching, research and project implementation in the areas of software engineering, sustainable development using passive and active renewable energy technologies.
He was appointed by Mr President in 2017 as a Commissioner with Independent National Electoral Commission and posted to Benue State as the Resident Electoral Commissioner in July 2017. He resigned to contest and thereafter emerged as the Plateau State APC Gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 polls.
*Dr Frankland Oyeins Briyai Biography*
Dr Frankland Oyeins Briyai was born on the 20th of June, 1963, at Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
He attended St. Stephen’s State Primary School, Amassoma, from 1970 to 1976, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) and passed with credit.
He proceeded to Government Trade Centre, Tungbo, Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State in 1976, but was transferred alongside his schoolmates in 1978 to Government Trade Centre, Ekowe, Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State where he obtained a pre-vocational Certificate in 1979.
He was again transferred to Government Technical College, Tombia, in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State in 1979 where he completed his course of study in Automobile Mechanics in 1982, and was awarded WAEC Technical Certificate and the Federal Craft Certificate.
He proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt where he bagged a B.SC Degree in Micro Biology, M. Sc in Parasitology from the Bayero University Kano, Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the Federal College of Education Kano and Ph. D in Environmental Parasitology from the University of Port Harcourt.
As a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) He conducted the Obudu State Constituency Bye-election, Ikom II State Constituency Bye-election, Anambra Central Senatorial District election, Osun State Governorship election, and the general elections in Cross River State in 2017. He resigned and joined the APC to contest the 2019 Bayelsa State Governorship election, losing to David Lyon in the primaries.
