Members of the Nigerian Senate led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has confirmed eight resident electoral commissioners of the Independent Electoral Commission and rejected one.
Bukola Saraki, Senate President
The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the remaining 8 resident electoral commissioners (RECs) of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and rejected one.
Recall that the upper legislative chamber, had on June 1, confirmed 15 out of the 27 nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The chairman of the senate committee on INEC, Suleiman Nazif, had explained that the remaining 12 were still undergoing screening. But at plenary on Wednesday, Nazif presented the report on the remaining 12 nominees for confirmation.
The senator also said nomination of Mustapha Zubairu (Niger) was rejected because he is from the same senatorial district as Mohammed Haruna, national commissioner of INEC, north-central.
He explained that the committee was still making “consultations” on Mahmuda Isah (Kebbi) and Bello Mahmud (Zamfara).
The senators also agreed to step down the nominee of Rufus Akeju (Lagos) after Abiodun Olujimi, senator representing Ekiti south, presented a court ruling against him.
The details of ruling was not disclosed but the senate president, Saraki referred it to the committee on INEC to look into it and report back to the upper legislative chamber.
The confirmed INEC REC nominees are;
1. Asmau Maikudi - Katsina
2. Sam Olumekun - Ondo
3. Riskuwa Shehu - Sokoto
4. Kasim Geidam - Yobe
5. Jibrin Zarewa - Kano
6. Abdulganiyu Raji - Oyo
7. Samuel Egwu - Kogi
8. Mike Igini - Delta