On Wednesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that it will be presenting Certificates of Return to the Adamawa State Governor-elect, Ahmadu Fintiri, and his deputy. The announcement was made on the commission’s official Twitter handle.
The presentation of certificates will take place at the INEC Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja. The INEC Conference Room will host the ceremony, which is set to take place at 3 pm.
The tweet from the commission also stated that members of the National Assembly-elect (Senators and House of Representatives) will receive their certificates at 11 am on the same day. For members of State Houses of Assembly-elect, they are instructed to contact their respective State offices to obtain their certificates.
This move by INEC is a routine procedure to formally affirm the election of the new government officials into their respective positions. It is also seen as a crucial step in ensuring the smooth transition of power and the continued sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
The presentation of the certificates comes after supplementary elections were held nationwide and winners were declared. These winners will now be officially recognized by INEC through the presentation of their Certificates of Return.
With the certificates, the Governor-elect and members of the National and State Assemblies-elect are now legally recognized as duly elected officials and can begin preparations for their official swearing-in ceremony.