Breaking News: At Last, Senate Screens President Buhari's REC Nominees

 

The Senate, on Wednesday, began the screening of the 27 persons nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as Resident Election Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

 

According to The Punch, eight of the nominees were screened on Wednesday while the exercise continues on Thursday.

 

The screening came seven weeks after the lawmakers suspended the consideration of the nominations in protest.

 

The Senate had on March 28, 2017, suspended the consideration for two weeks to protest against the retention of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission despite the rejection of his appointment by the legislature.

 

The ultimatum had expired on April 11, 2017, but the matter was not raised in the Senate chamber until May 2, 2017, when the lawmakers considered Buhari’s request for legislative approval on the nominations.

 

While the appointment of some RECs are new, others are reappointments.

 

Those for new appointments are Prof. Godswill Obioma (Abia), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa), James Apam (Benue), Nwachukwu Orji (Ebonyi), Iloh Valentine (Enugu), Asmau Maikudi (Katsina), Mahmuda Isa (Kebbi), Prof. Samuel Egwu (Kogi), Prof. Mustapha Zubairu (Niger), Agboke Mutiu (Ogun), Abdul-Ganiyu Olayinka (Oyo) and Prof. Riskuwa Shehu (Sokoto).

 

Others are Ahmad Mahmud (Zamfara), Nentewa Yilwatda (Plateau), Umar Ibrahim (Taraba), Emeka Ononamadu (Imo), Obo Effanga (Cross River), Prof. Francis Ezeonu (Anambra) and Briyia Frankland (Bayelsa).

 

Those for reappointment are Ahmad Makama (Bauchi), Mike Igini (Delta), Hussaini Pai (FCT), Sadiq Musa (Kaduna), Jibrin Zarewa (Kano), Rufus Akeju (Lagos), Sam Olumekun (Ondo) and Kasim Geidam (Yobe).

 

At the screening exercise on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, formally presented the nominees to the Senate Committee on INEC for screening.