Senate set to confirm 27 INEC REC nominees
Preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 general election will soon get a boost as the Senate is set to adopt the Report on the screening of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari and confirm them accordingly.
INEC had already set the timetable for conduct of the 2019 general election, indicating that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold in February 16, 2019.
The Senate which initially was at loggerheads with the Presidency on crucial political matters had put the screening of the RECs in abeyance, but backed down on political exigencies to conduct screening for the nominees.
The Senate conducted the screening seven weeks after it suspended the consideration of the nominations in protest.
A ranking Senator, who sought anonymity, had confided in The Daily Times that the Report on Screening of the 27
RECs would be laid before the Senate by the close of legislative business this week.
From indications, the Report after the Senate approval would be sent to the President after which the confirmed nominees would officially resume work at INEC, all things being equal.
President Buhari is currently on a medical vacation in London, although reports said he would return to Nigeria within the next two weeks after clearance by his doctors.
Already screened for INEC appointments are Godswill Obioma, Abia; Ibrahim Abdullahi, Adamawa; Ahmad Makama, Bauchi; James Apam, Benue; Mike Igini, Delta; Nwachukwu Orji, Ebonyi; Iloh Chuks, Enugu and Hussaini Pai, Federal Capital Territory.
Others are Sadiq Musa, Kaduna; Jibrin Zarewa, Kano; Asmau Maikudi, Katsina; Mahmuda Isah, Kebbi; Samuel Egwu, Kogi; Rufus Akeju, Lagos; Mustapha Zubairu, Niger; Agboke Olaleke, Ogun and Sam Olumekun, Ondo.
The list also contained names of AbdulGaniyu Raji, Oyo; Riskuwa Shehu, Sokoto; Kasim Geidam, Yobe; Ahmad Mahmud, Zamfara; Nentawe Yilwatda, Plateau and Umar Ibrahim, Taraba.
Emeka Joseph, Imo; Obo Effanga, Cross River; Francis Ezeonu, Anambra and Briyai Frankland, Bayelsa, were also nominated.
For the screening to hold, the Senate had replaced its suspended Chairman on INEC, Senator Muhammed Ali Ndume with Senator Suleiman Nazif who conducted the exercise.
