The Senate has begun considering President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominees for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This development emerged just as a Presidency hinted that the name of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, may be represented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate for confirmation.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who said this in a interview during his visit to head office of the Media Trusts Limited in Abuja, said the Senate as it stood currently had more in common with the executive.
Responding to questions during the visit, Mallam Shehu said, since the President had made it clear that there was nothing in the report by the Department of State Service (DSS), upon which the Senate’s rejection of Magu as substantive chairman of EFCC was premised, that was strong enough to warrant his replacement, that his name might be represented.
He however added that, “You heard what the Vice President said about it and you know the position of the President about it. It is the place of the President to decide what to do with Magu but I must tell you that Magu has the energy to do the work and that is what he has been doing. And the President is satisfied by his performances,” he said.
The Senators had on March 28 stood down the consideration the names of 27 RECs sent to them by President Muhammadu Buhari over the continue occupation of office by the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
The two weeks ultimatum given to the President to replace Magu elapsed on April 11 without them achieving their aim.
The motion for the consideration of the President’s request on the RECs was moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan and it was seconded by the Senate Minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The request was referred to the Senate Committee on INEC with two weeks timeframe. The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki announced that the committee will be chaired by Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC, Bauchi North).
“As you all know, there is no chairman for INEC, so Senator Mohammed Nazif will now chair it. He is to report back in two weeks,” he said.
Recall the chairman of the Senate Commitee on INEC, Senator Ali Ndume was suspended in March.
Also, the Senators also referred the President’s request on three non-career Ambassadorial nominees, namely
Justice Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor (Imo State), Joseph Olusola Iji (Ondo State) and retired Commodore Yusuf Jonga Hinna(Gombe) to the foreign affairs committee.
Lawan moved that the motion for the consideration of the nominees be referred to committee for further legislative actions, it was seconded by Senator Akpabio.
The foreign affairs committee was given two weeks to screen the nominees.
