Nigeria appoints new electoral chief
Xinhua, October 21, 2015 Adjust font size:
Nigeria on Wednesday appointed Mahmood Yakubu, a renowned professor of history and international studies, as new electoral chief of the West African country.
His nomination was ratified at a state advisory council meeting chaired by the Nigerian leader, Muhammadu Buhari, at the presidential palace.
Governor of Nigeria's northwestern state of Sokoto Aminu Waziri Tambuwal told reporters the appointment of the new electoral chief was in line with relevant provisions of the Nigerian constitution and in consultation with the state advisory council.
Mahmud Jega, the former chief of the Independent National Electoral Commission, quit office in June, after serving a term of five years leading the electoral body and conducting a historic general election this year.
The March 2015 election was considered most historic in Nigeria because it was the first time a sitting president lost an election to the candidate of an opposition party in the African most populous nation. Endit