Finally, Senate begins confirmation process for 27 RECs

The Senate on Tuesday made a U-Turn over its decision to put on hold the confirmation process of the 27 resident electoral commissioners (RECs) and commenced the legislative process on the nominees.

The lawmakers had delayed the exercise in protest against President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to remove Mr Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), having rejected Magu’s nomination twice.

Buhari had sent a letter to the Senate in March, asking the lawmakers to confirm the appointment of the 27 RECs.

But some of the senators kicked against the confirmation process on the grounds that the president must act on their resolution on Magu, thereby setting the stage for a showdown between the executive and the legislature.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, however, referred Buhari’s request on the nominees’ confirmation to the Senate Committee on INEC for legislative action and directed the committee to submit its report in two weeks.