How Commissioner, ‘Niyi Ijalaye slumped, died during INEC meeting in Abuja

Barrister ‘Niyi Ijalaye, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun State with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has passed away.

He reportedly collapsed and died in Abuja on Monday evening after attending a meeting of RECs at INEC’s headquarters.

The cause of death remains unknown.

A source, speaking anonymously, stated that Ijalaye had returned to his hotel room after the meeting before the incident occurred. The Ondo-born administrator had been lively during the meeting but later passed away at a hotel in the Federal Capital Territory.

The meeting, according to INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu, focused on two upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, as well as seven vacant positions in the National and State Assemblies. This information was shared on INEC’s official Facebook page.

Barrister Ijalaye, dressed in a blue-striped kaftan with a red cap, was seen in photos from the meeting posted by the commission. He had been assigned to Ogun State in March 2022 following the transfer of Olusegun Agbaje to Lagos State.