Shortly after assuming office yesterday, the Acting Chairperson of the Commission, Amina Bala Zakari spoke to newsmen.

Below are excerpts of her pronouncements:

I accept my appointment with humility and with dedication to serve. I believe it is just a continuation to what the former Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, has started which has been at a high level and there shouldn’t be any problem. I have been part of the process: I have known the problems, challenges and I have seen the successes. What is remaining is for us to build on the successes and try to tackle the outstanding challenges.

I must say a lot has been done to improve the electoral processes in Nigeria through the past Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega and a lot more needs to be done. I must say it is like trying to reach an equilibrium because the bulk of the work has been done by former Chairman, Professor Jega, to bring the quality of changes to election management to a high level. So all we need to do is to put all hands on deck to improve further on what he has done and improve on the good practices he has left behind. Basically, with the cooperation of all, and the support of staff and the people of Nigeria, we should be able to do it pending when a new Commission is put in place.

Challenges cannot be envisaged because they come as the need arises. So we tackle them as they come-one day at a time. And then try to sort out administrative issues then the major electoral issues, which a lot has been put into. We just need to improve where INEC seems to have failed or erred during the last elections.

Basically, half of the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) are on seat and half of the National Commissioners are on seat; so we will deliver the best we can until a new Commission is put in place.

We will continue working until a new Commission is constituted. The job will continue; we still have the Secretary, the Directors and the Commissioners. The Commission will be doing what it needs to do.