The Nigerian Senate has approved the nomination of 15 out of the 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sent to them for confirmation.
The 15 Resident Electoral Commissioners were confirmed on Thursday by the Senate, following the adoption of the report by the Senate Committee on INEC led by, Chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif, the plenary session.
According to the Committee the other 12 nominees are still undergoing screening.
Those confirmed were Hussaini Haliru Pai from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT; Alhaji Ahmad Makama, Bauchi; and Sadiq Abubakar Musa, Kaduna who were reappointed.
Also confirmed as new RECS were Professor Godswill Obioma, Abia; Ibrahim Abdullahi, Adamawa; James Iorliam Apam, Benue; Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, Ebonyi; Dr. Ilona Joseph Valentine Chuks, Enugu; Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, Plateau; Umar Ibrahim, Taraba; Emeka Ononamadu Joseph, Imo; Obo O. Effanga, Cross River; Professor Francis Chukwuemeka Ezeonu, Anambra; Dr. Briyai O. Frankland, Bayelsa; and Agboke Mutiu Olaleke, Ogun.
Senate President Bukola Saraki urged the new RECs to discharge their assignments with high sense of patriotism so as to further deepen democratic parties and improve the electoral processes.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on 23rd March, 2017, written to the Senate, requesting for the screening and subsequent confirmation of 27 REC. But the Senate had suspended the screening processes for two weeks to protest the President’s inaction on the rejection of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, despite his rejection twice, by the Senate.
The list of 27 nominees sent to by the president contained eight RECs nominated for reappointment while 19 others were nominated for fresh appointment.
