Barrister Niyi Ijalaye, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogun State, has passed away.
He reportedly slumped and died in his hotel room in Abuja on Monday evening.
The incident occurred shortly after Ijalaye attended a meeting of RECs at the INEC headquarters.
The meeting, chaired by INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, focused on the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, as well as discussions on seven vacant seats in the National and State Assemblies.
Ijalaye had been in high spirits during the meeting and was seen in photos posted by the Commission, dressed in a blue-striped kaftan and a red cap.
However, he reportedly retired to his hotel room at the Bon Octagon Hotel in the Federal Capital Territory, where the incident took place.
The cause of Ijalaye’s death has not been officially disclosed. He was posted to Ogun State in March 2022, following the transfer of Olusegun Agbaje to Lagos State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not yet released an official statement regarding Ijalaye’s death. His passing has come as a shock, and the circumstances surrounding his death are still unclear.
