Barrister ‘Niyi Ijalaye, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun State, has died. He passed away on Monday evening in Abuja after a meeting at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters.
According to reports, Barrister Ijalaye collapsed and died shortly after attending a meeting of Resident Electoral Commissioners from across Nigeria.
The meeting, held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, reportedly focused on important issues including upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States and filling seven vacant positions in the National and State Assemblies.
A source close to the Ogun State INEC office, who requested to remain anonymous, revealed that Barrister Ijalaye appeared to be in good spirits during the meeting.
After the discussions concluded, he returned to his hotel room in the Federal Capital Territory, where he subsequently collapsed and died. The exact cause of his death is not yet confirmed, but the incident has left many in shock and mourning.
Ijalaye was appointed as the Ogun State REC in March 2022. He succeeded Olusegun Agbaje, who was reassigned to Lagos State.
Born in Ondo State, Ijalaye was an experienced administrator with a background in law. His role as REC involved overseeing the conduct of elections, ensuring compliance with electoral laws, and addressing issues related to the electoral process in Ogun State.
In a statement, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, expressed deep sorrow over Ijalaye’s passing. Yakubu described Ijalaye as a dedicated and hardworking member of the Commission, whose contributions were highly valued. The INEC Chairman praised Ijalaye’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and extended condolences to his family.
