Resident Electoral Commissioners

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Obo Effanga was born on August 15, 1969 in Calabar, to Chief & Mrs Obo Effanga. He hails from Obutong Clan in Calabar Municipal Local Government Area.
Education:
Effanga attended the AME Zion Primary School, Diamond Hill, Calabar (1974 to 1980) and the Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar (1980 to 1985), obtaining the FSLC and the GCE O’Level certificates respectively.
He studied at The Polytechnic Calabar (1986-1988) and obtained a National Diploma in Mass Communications and Law at the University of Calabar, graduating with an LL.B in April 1994. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was called to the bar in March 1995.
In 2010, he studied in the University of Sussex, UK as a Ford Foundation International Fellow and obtained a Master of Arts degree in Human Rights.
Work Experience:
Obo Effanga who joined INEC as REC in July 2017 was first posted to Edo State before he was reassigned to Rivers State in April 2018.
Before his appointment as REC, Effanga worked with ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) for more than 11 years, serving as Governance Programmes Manager in his last six years there. He was the points-person for ActionAid intervention in Nigeria’s elections. 
He was previously Parliamentary Liaison Advisor and Policy Advocacy & Campaigns Coordinator in the anti-poverty international non-governmental organisation. While at ActionAid, Effanga represented his organisation in the Steering Committee of the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, an electoral process and governance engagement platform of civil society in Nigeria. This saw him make critical interventions and support to the electoral process in the country.
While still with ActionAid, he was an associate and external trainer for the MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation (MS-TCDC) Tanzania.
He was also responsible for recruiting, training and mentoring young Nigerians as activists and campaigners for ActionAid under the Activista programme.
Effanga had also worked as Programme Officer Human Rights at Gender and Development Action in the dying days of military rule through to the early years of the current Nigerian democratic experience. He currently sits in the National Coordinating Committee of the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN)
A lawyer and journalist, Effanga is interested in human rights, good governance and democracy.
His journalism career has seen him work with the Nigerian Chronicle newspapers published by the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation and much later with the NewAge newspapers. A consummate writer, journalist and newspaper columnist, he won the ‘Columnist of the Year’ in the Nigeria Media Merit Awards 2004. His incisive newspaper commentaries and analyses since 1988 cover a wide range of issues including law, politics, governance, human rights and social justice.
Other Interests:
Effanga is active in humanitarian services. In his youthful years, he belonged to the Leo Club, the youth activity of Lions Clubs and became national president of the group in 1996/1997. He later joined the Lions Club and is a past president of the Lagos Achievers Lions Club as well as a Melvin Jones Fellow.
He is currently the president of the International Ford Fellowships Programme Alumni Association Nigeria and vice chairman of community intervention NGO, the Efik Leadership Foundation.
His hobbies include reading, writing, travelling, philately, photography and mentorship.

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In 1999, he proceeded to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and bagged a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management. He was at the Marquette University, Milwuakee, USA, Aspen Centre and got a Certificate in Good Governance in 2007. Emeka Ononamadu bagged his Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Abuja in 2013. He did his National Youth Service with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja in 1995 and ever since then, Emeka Ononamadu has been actively engaged in the Civil Society Advocacy. The positions he has held in the course of his Civil Society Advocacy include; 2001 – 2004 – North Central Coordinator, Network for Police Reforms in Nigeria 2006 – 2009 – Project Manager, Transformation Education for girls in Nigeria 2003 – 2009 – Deputy Executive Director, Community Action for popular participation 2009 – 2017 – Executive Director, Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights 2016 – 2017 – National Coordinator, Publish what you pay in Nigeria 2016 – 2017 – Member, Steering Committee of Open Governance Partnership, amongst others Emeka Ononamadu belongs to so many professional bodies including;

  • Friends of Mississippi Consortium for International Development, USA, 2002
  • Associate Member, Nigerian Institute of Management, 20103
  • Les Apin Fellow on Anti-Corruption and Good Governance, USA, 2007

He is happily married with children Emeka Joseph Ononamadu is the Resident Electoral Commission, Enugu State.

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Mrs Icheka is a highly accomplished and seasoned administrator with an exceptional track record in
strategic management, human resource development, and public administration with over three decades of dedicated service in high-profile leadership roles within Nigeria’s foremost Election Management Body (EMB); the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  where she has demonstrated outstanding expertise in personnel management  and electoral administration.


EDUCATIONAL  BACKGROUND AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

 She earned her First School Leaving Certificate from Ekulu Primary School, G.R.A,
Enugu, in 1976 and proceeded to Queen of the Rosary College (QRC) Onitsha, where she obtained her West Africa School Certificate in 1981. She gained admission into the
prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English
Education. Further strengthening her professional competencies, she obtained a Postgraduate Diploma
in Management and a Master’s in Business Management (MBA) in 1997.
Mrs Icheka’s commitment to continuous learning is reflected in her participation in several high-level
professional courses, training and certifications across the globe. While she had a brief stint at the
Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA), Kaduna, where she completed her National Youth Service (NYSC)
at the Army Public Relations Department, she played a pivotal role in editorial publications for ‘The
Valiant,’ the institution’s official magazine. She has also undertaken executive management courses
facilitated by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), including:
• Fundamentals of Human Resource Function: Value Chain, Policies, and Processes
• Administrative Skills and Procurement Management.
Additionally, she holds a BRIDGE Certificate in Strategic and Financial Planning, a Certificate in
Management from the University of London, and a Certificate in Management of Democratic Elections
in Africa from the University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria.
Professional Career and Leadership Experience
Mrs Icheka’s illustrious career began in 1992 when she joined the defunct National Electoral
Commission (NEC) as a Senior Administrative Officer at the Headquarters, Abuja. With a keen eye for
personnel development and welfare, she played a crucial role in staff promotions, disciplinary matters,
and policy implementation. By 1995, she was promoted to Principal Administrative Officer, GL 12,
followed by successive promotions to Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, GL 13 (1998) and Chief
Administrative Officer, GL 14 (2001).
In 1999, she was posted to INEC Anambra State and appointed Head of Unit – Personnel, where she
played a crucial role in facilitating staff career progression, ensuring that employees who had obtained
additional qualifications were converted to appropriate Cadres based on their requisite qualifications.
This significantly boosted staff morale and institutional efficiency.
By 2004, Mrs Icheka was promoted to the rank of Assistant Director, GL 15, followed by a posting to
the INEC Enugu State in 2007. She was further elevated to Deputy Director, GL 16, in 2008, where she
served with distinction in multiple capacities, pioneering several impactful initiatives.
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Key Achievements and Institutional Impact
Mrs Icheka’s tenure in various leadership roles has been marked by transformative initiatives,
particularly in public affairs, general administration etc. Some of her landmark achievements include:
• Institutional Publications & Staff Development: As Head of the Public Affairs Unit in Enugu State
Office, she pioneered the publication of the first-ever INEC Newsletter in 2008, an initiative that
enhanced internal communication, staff engagement, and professional development through
editorial contributions. This feat earned her a Letter of Commendation from the INEC
Headquarters, Abuja for her initiative and editorial excellence.
• Administrative and Human Capital Reforms: Over 12 years as Head of General Administration
and Procurement (HOD GAP) across different states, she made remarkable changes to enhance
staff efficiency, promote workplace productivity, and implement best practices in personnel
management.
• Electoral Operations & Election Management: As Head of Electoral Operations (HOD,
Operations) in Enugu State from 2009 to 2010, Mrs Icheka played a pivotal role in supervising
all election-related activities within the state, ensuring seamless electoral processes and
adherence to best practices. Her exceptional leadership was further demonstrated when she led
the Enugu State contingent to Anambra State for the 2010 Gubernatorial Election in the state, an
exercise that was widely acclaimed as credible, free, and fair. Her expertise in electoral
operations, strategic planning, and stakeholder coordination was instrumental in the successful
conduct of the election, reinforcing her reputation as a seasoned election administrator committed
to transparency and democratic integrity.
• Strategic Leadership & High-Level Administrative Skills: Mrs Icheka’s leadership expertise was
further demonstrated when she served as Acting Administrative Secretary in Enugu and Ebonyi
State Offices at critical transition periods. In both instances, she successfully oversaw high-stake
administrative functions, ensuring institutional continuity and stability.
Recognizing her unwavering dedication, strategic foresight, and exceptional leadership capabilities, Mrs
Icheka was appointed Acting Administrative Secretary, Ebonyi State in August 2023. Her tenure has
been marked by bold policy implementations, improved service delivery and staff capacity-building
initiatives. She was promoted to the rank of Director, GL 17 in 2024 and she is currently serving as the
Administrative Secretary, Abia State, where she continues to drive institutional excellence.
Leadership Experience
Mrs Icheka’s career is a shining example of dedication, commitment and dynamism. A visionary leader,
a dynamic team player, and a result-oriented administrator, Mrs Icheka’s extensive experience across
multiple states and regions, coupled with her deep understanding of personnel management has impacted
positively in her job performance.
Personal Life
Mrs Icheka is a dedicated professional, a mentor to many, and a passionate advocate for institutional
excellence. She is happily married with children.
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