UMEADI IS INEC ACTING CHAIRMAN

Barrister Philip Umeadi, the most senior official has assumed office as the acting chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

His assumption of office followed the recent directive of acting President Goodluck Jonathan that Prof Maurice Iwu, the former chairman should proceed on disengagement leave with effect from April 28, 2010.

Until his assumption office, Umeadi was the Commissioner in charge of Information and Publicity Committee.

Barrister Umeadi was appointed National Commissioner on September 6, 2006 to replace Prof. Maurice Iwu, following his appointment as INEC chairman in 2005. He is the most senior National Commissioner in the commission following the exit of Barrister Victor Chukwuani.

It would be recalled that the directive from the presidency specifically stated that the most senior National Commissioner should immediately take over in order not to leave a vacuum in the leadership profile of the commission.

Meanwhile, a statement signed by Umenger Emmanuel, director, public affairs reads; ' This development should naturally put an end to insinuations from some segments of the media that there is a vacuum in the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the moment.'