SAN FRANCISCO, May 02, (THEWILL) – The Senate, on Tuesday, began the screening of the 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari and sent to the Senate for confirmation.
The leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, presented the President’s request for approval of the nominees at plenary in Abuja.
THEWILL recalls that the Senate had, after the receipt of the list of nominees, threatened to abandon the request in protest of the Executive’s handling of the refusal of the chamber to confirm Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
However, after hearing the motion on Tuesday, the Senate directed its Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to screen the nominees and report back in two weeks.
The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, directed that Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC-Bauchi) should head the committee in the absence of its Chairman, Sen. Ali Ndume, currently on a six-week suspension.
“In the absence of the Chairman, Sen. Ali Ndume, Sen. Nazif will head the committee and the report should be brought back to the Senate in two weeks,” Saraki said.
The nominees are Prof. Godswill Obioma, Abia; Ibrahim Abdullahi, Adamawa; Alhaji Ahmad Makama, Bauchi; James Apam, Benue; Mr Mike Igini, Delta; Dr Nwachukwu Orji, Ebonyi; Dr Iloh Chuks, Enugu and Hussaini Pai, Federal Capital Territory.
Other are Sadiq Musa, Kaduna; Jibrin Zarewa, Kano; Mrs Asmau Maikudi, Katsina; Dr Mahmuda Isah, Kebbi; Prof. Samuel Egwu, Kogi; Dr Rufus Akeju, Lagos; Prof. Mustapha Zubairu, Niger; Agboke Olaleke, Ogun and Sam Olumekun, Ondo.
The rest are AbdulGaniyu Raji, Oyo; Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, Sokoto; Mr Kasim Geidam, Yobe; Ahmad Mahmud, Zamfara; Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, Plateau; Umar Ibrahim, Taraba; Mr Emeka Joseph, Imo; Obo Effanga, Cross River; Prof. Francis Ezeonu, Anambra and Dr. Briyai Frankland, Bayelsa.
