The Ogun State Resident Electoral Commission of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Olaniyi Ijalaye reportedly slumped and died yesterday evening, Monday, August 19, 2024.
The tragic incident, according to emerging reports, took place in his hotel room shortly after he attended a meeting at the Commission’s headquarters.
The meeting, presided over by INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, centered on the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, as well as discussions on seven vacant positions in the National and State Assemblies.
Social media reports quote an unnamed reliable INEC source as saying that the victim, a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) from Ogun State “had returned to his hotel room in Abuja after the meeting when the tragic incident occurred.”
The source, according to a report, hinted that the victim was lodged at Bon Octagon Hotel in the Federal Capital Territory for the meeting.
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“The source noted that the REC, who hailed from Ondo State, was in good spirits throughout the day’s proceedings before his untimely demise,” according to one of the reports.
It quoted “an official of the commission, speaking on the condition of anonymity”, as confirming the tragic incident, “stating that the news has already caused significant confusion and distress within the state headquarters.”
The commission has not made official statement on the incident.