Paul Ejime, PANA Staff Correspondent
7 August 1998
LAGOS, Nigeria (PANA) — Nigeria's military ruler, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, has appointed a 14-member Independent Electoral Commission to organise a series of national polls before his planned hand over of power 29 May, 1999.
Three weeks ago, he dissolved the electoral body, which conducted elections under the transition programme of his predecessor, Gen. Sani Abacha, who died 8 June.
The commission, whose members were named after Thursday's long meeting of the policy-making Provisional Ruling Council, is headed by a former Supreme Court judge, Ephraim Omokuse Akpata, while its secretary is Adamu Bawa Muazu. The commissioners, two of whom are women, will be sworn next week.
Abubakar has also reshuffled the 36 state military administrators, he inherited from Abacha. Fifteen new administrators were appointed, 18 were redeployed, while three, including Col. Mohammed Marwa of Lagos State, were retained in their states of posting.
Administering the oath of office on the state chief executives, Abubakar cautioned them to steer clear of politics.
"This administration will not tolerate any covert or overt participation in political process by any of its functionaries," he told them. "Like all public servants, you are barred from participation in
politics. You are advised to desist from responding to any political overtures, commendation or condemnation."
Nigerians are now anxiously waiting for Abubakar to announce his cabinet.
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