The Electoral Forum Members
PROFESSOR BAYO OLUKOSHI, Chairman
Professor Bayo Olukoshi, a Distinguished Professor at the Wits School of Governance, is the Chair of The Electoral Forum. He was the immediate Director for Africa and West Asia at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). He has gained decades of experience in international relations, governance and human rights, having served in various organisations, including the UN African Institute for Economic Development and Planning, the Africa Governance Institute, the Council for Development of Social Science Research in Africa, the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, and the South Centre in Geneva.
PROFESSOR LIASU ADELE JINADU
Professor Jinadu is one of the foremost political scientists in Nigeria, who served in the National Electoral Commission from 1987 to 1992. His career in academia spans several roles, including Lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Visiting Associate Professor at Indiana University, USA, Visiting Associate Professor at Michigan State University, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Zimbabwe, Director-General at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, Lead Facilitator at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Lagos, and Professor of Political Science at Babcock University. He previously served as Executive Director of the Centre for Advanced Social Science, Port Harcourt, Secretary-General and President of the African Association of Political Science, and Vice-President of the International Political Science Association. Professor Jinadu was trained in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University for Oxford, UK, and Political Science at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
PROFESSOR ATTAHIRU JEGA, OFR
Professor Attahiru Jega is a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (2010-2015). He was previously the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Plateau State University, Bokkos; Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano; Director of Center for Democratic Research and Training; and President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Professor Jega was trained in political science at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois, USA. He is currently a member of Afrobarometer’s International Advisory Council, the Kofi Annan Foundation’s Electoral Integrity Initiative, the Nigerian Tertiary Education Fund’s (TETFUND) Research and Development Standing Committee, the board of the International Federation of Electoral Systems (IFES), and a Professor in the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano.
PROFESSOR OKECHUKWU IBEANU
Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu is a former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He held two positions at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, including Professor of Political Science and Research Professor in Development Studies, until being appointed to the Commission in 2016. Professor Ibeanu served as the UN Special Rapporteur on the detrimental effects of hazardous wastes on the enjoyment of human rights from 2004 to 2010. Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu has held a number of positions, including fellow at the United Nations University, visiting scholar at King’s College London’s Conflict, Security and Development Group, and visiting professor at Oxford University’s Queen Elizabeth House.
He has mentored a number of Fellows at the Africa Leadership Center, which is administered by King’s College and the University of Nairobi, and served as an external examiner for doctorate theses at King’s College London. He served on a number of governing bodies, academic councils, and scientific committees both domestically and abroad, including those of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (Lagos, Nigeria), the Centre for Democracy and Development (Abuja, Nigeria), the Stakeholder Democracy Network (London, UK), and the Scientific Committee of the Global Environmental Change and Human Security Project.
HAJIYA AMINA ZAKARI
Hajiya Amina Zakari is a former Acting Chair of INEC (2015), the first woman in the nation’s history to hold this position. Hajiya Zakari worked as a pharmacist and consultant in various hospitals before moving to public service, where she served as Special Assistant to the President, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Social Development, and also Agriculture and Rural Development. Until retirement, she was a two-term National Commissioner in INEC. Hajiya Zakari studied Pharmacy at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and attended courses in the International Drug Agency, Netherlands, and Harvard Business School (HBS), USA.
PROFESSOR ANTONIA SIMBINE
Professor Antonia Simbine is a Senior Research Fellow in the Policy and Governance Policy Department (PGPD) and Head, Knowledge Management Department (KMD), at the Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan. Until November 2020, she was a National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) overseeing the Election and Party Monitoring Department and supervising the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) office and Kaduna, Niger and Plateau states.
PROFESSOR OLATUNDE BABAWALE
Professor Gabriel Olatunde Babawale is currently the Provost of Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria and a Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos. He previously served as a member of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC). He also served as the Director/CEO of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC). He has served the University of Lagos creditably in positions such as Dean of Students’ Affairs, Chairman of the Forte Foundation Grant Committee, General Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), among others.
ALHAJI KASSIM GAIDAM
A lawyer called to the Nigerian bar about 38 years ago, Mr. Kassim G. Gaidam is a seasoned corporate solicitor and administrator with wealth of experience which span over 20 years as Head of Legal Department, Divisional Head (Administration & Human Resource), Regional Director and Group Head (North) at the legacy Habib Nigeria Bank/Bank PHB.
In 1991, he was appointed as pioneer Local Government Chairman (Sole Administrator), Yusufari LGA, Yobe State, after which he became the first General Manager of Yobe Line Transport Service till 1993.
Kassim Gaidam was also elected delegate and member Constitution Drafting Committee of the National Constitutional Conference June 1994 – June 1995. From 1997 to 1999, Kassim Gaidam was the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Yobe State, where he chaired among other things, the State Transition Implementation Committee that facilitated smooth hand over to civil rule in May, 1999.
While practicing as Principal Partner in Rights Law Chambers, Kassim Gaidam was appointed by the President as Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in June 2010 and reappointed for another term of 5 years in August 2017. He served as REC in Adamawa, Edo and Gombe States. He also supervised Off season elections as ‘REC on Election Duty’ in all the six geo political zones of the Country during his tenure which ended August 2022.
HON. (MRS.) GLORIA UKPONG
Hon. (Mrs.) Gloria Ukpong served as the Chairperson of the Akwa-Ibom State Independent Election Commission (AKSIEC) for the maximum two terms allowed by law from 2008 -2017. She presided over the conduct of three local government council elections, 2008, 2012 and 2017. As the Chairperson of AKSIEC, she ensured the conduct of free, fair, credible and acceptable elections at the grassroots towards sustainable democracy in Akwa Ibom State. During this time, she conducted sensitizations campaigns and workshops to build the knowledge and capacity of stakeholders including political parties to design and implement appropriate framework for a credible and an accountable electoral process in Akwa-Ibom State.
She was also the Vice Chairperson (2014 -2016) and Chairperson (2016-2017) of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions (FOSIECON). Prior to her time at AKSIEC, she was a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where she rose through the ranks to directorate level and served in various departments such as administration, logistics, electoral operations, and training.
Hon. Ukpong has participated in various national and international trainings on, workshops and conferences on election management and administration, election planning and logistics, election monitoring and observations, etc. including the BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections). She has monitored and observed elections at the Local, State, Federal and International levels including being on the IFES team of delegates during the 2008 and 2012 Presidential Elections in the USA.
MR EMMANUEL ADEMOLA JOHNSON
Mr Emmanuel Ademola Johnson is an administrator and election management expert. He retired from INEC as a Deputy Secretary, having previously served as Administrative Secretary in Lagos State, Director (Research & Statistics), Director (Field Services), Pioneer Director (Operations), Director (Procurement), and Head of Commission Secretariat in Abuja. He was trained in political science at the University of Ibadan.
Hon. HANNATU USMAN BINIYAT
Dr.(Mrs) Hannatu Usman Biniyat is a former Chairman, Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM) 2011-2015 and conducted the 2012 local government council election of Kaduna State. She was also a State Electoral Commissioner of KADSIECOM from 2008-2011, and between 2011-2015, the National Secretary, Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON). She is a seasoned administrator, and facilitator and has served in various capacities in both public and private sector. Including as Hospital Secretary, Turaki Buga Memorial Hospital, Kagoro, Kaura LGA, Kaduna State. She worked for 25 years from the rank of Assistant Trade Officer to Assistant Chief Audit Officer, in-charge of the Pension Department, Office of the Auditor General, Kaduna State.
MR OKECHUKWU NDECHE, ESQ.
Mr Okechukwu Ndeche, political scientist, lawyer, arbitrator, administrator, and election management expert, is a retired Director of the Independent National Electoral Commission. He was trained in political science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the University of Lagos. He was also trained in law at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and the Nigerian Law School, Abuja. Until his retirement from INEC, Mr Ndeche served in many various roles, including Electoral Officer, Acting Administrative Secretary of Anambra State, Assistant Director (Field Services), Deputy Director (Electoral Process), Director of Operations, Director of Planning & Monitoring, and Acting Secretary. Mr Ndeche is currently the Senior Partner, OKEY NDECHE & CO – an Abuja-based firm of Legal Practitioners, Arbitrators, Mediators, and Consultants.
ALHAJI LAWAL WASE
Alhaji Lawal Isa Wase MPA, FCPA, FICA, is a retired Director with INEC, having joined the service of the then National Electoral Commission (NEC) now INEC on transfer of service from the Plateau State Ministry of Education in June 1990. During his 26 years’ service with the Commission (INEC), he served as Electoral Officer in Plateau State, HOD (Operations, Public Affairs and General Administration) as well as Ag. Administrative Secretary in Nasarawa and Bauchi States. Between 2012 and 2013, Lawal was the Administrative Secretary in Kwara from where he was appointed Director (Procurement) INEC headquarters Abuja to join the Professor Jega’s term that midwifed the 2015 General Elections. Alhaji Wase retired on 28 July 2016. He is married with six children.
MRS IKWUNMA HALLIDAY
Mrs Ikwunma Halliday is an election management expert. She started the Election Monitoring and Observation Unit and served as Head of the Unit in the Commission and Secretary of the Bilateral Committee of INEC-NYSC. She has monitored elections the length and breadth of Nigeria. She also observed elections under the Commission in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Ireland, amongst others. She has also been a member of the AU, ECOWAS, and EISA election missions. Under the ECOWAS, AU and EISA, she participated in election missions in Ghana, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Liberia amongst others. She has delivered lectures to a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). She retired in 2018 as a Director in Election and Party Monitoring Department of INEC.
MR MIKE ASUKWO
Mr Mike Asukwo is an award-winning editorial cartoonist, sculptor and designer who uses cartoons as a medium to comment and drive discussions on pressing socio-political issues. As the Chief Editorial Artist at BusinessDay, he also organises solo sculpting and designing exhibitions. Mr Asukwo’s works have been published in various magazines, newspapers, blogs, and social media platforms. He was awarded the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Award (Cartoon Category) in 2012, 2013 and 2015. Mr Asukwo was trained in sculpturing at the Yaba College of Technology.
MR EVEREST AMAEFULE
Poet, teacher, reporter, writer, analyst, editor, intellectual, development scholar, tech enthusiast, researcher, and author, Mr Everest Amaefule, an accomplished Nigerian journalist, started his eventful journalism career as a student intern at the Weekend Concord. He has climbed the ladder in the Nigerian journalism industry. He is the author of the book, The ICT Revolution in Nigeria: Closing the Gaps. Amaefule holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and a master’s in marketing (public relations). He also holds a doctorate in media arts (development communication).
DR KOLE SHETTIMA
Dr Kole Shettima is the Director of the MacArthur Foundation based in Abuja. Prior to his current position, he taught at universities in Nigeria, Canada and the USA. He is on the board of several civil society organisations. Dr Shettima was trained in political science at the University of Maiduguri, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Toronto.