The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun State, Niyi Ijalaye, has passed away. The Ondo-born electoral chief reportedly collapsed and died on Monday evening in Abuja following a meeting of RECs at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters.
A source within the Ogun INEC, who requested anonymity, disclosed that Ijalaye had returned to his hotel room after the meeting when the incident occurred. Eyewitnesses described the REC as actively participating in the meeting, dressed in a blue-striped kaftan and red cap.
The meeting, chaired by INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu, centered on the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, as well as vacancies in the National and State Assemblies.
Ijalaye was appointed to head the Ogun State INEC in March 2022, succeeding Olusegun Agbaje who was transferred to Lagos State.
As of the time of this report, the electoral commission had yet to release a formal statement on the matter.