BREAKING: Senate halts confirmation of REC nominees over Buhari’s inaction on Magu

The Nigeria’s Senate has stood down the confirmation of nominees for positions of Resident Electoral Commissioners, after expressing misgivings about President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sack Ibrahim Magu as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission despite his repeated rejection by the lawmakers.

The Senators also accused nominees of the President of disrespecting the National Assembly.

The Senate therefore resolved to suspend the confirmation in protest.

President Buhari had last week nominated 27 persons for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners of INEC.

The senate therefore shifted screening, which was supposed to begin on Tuesday, by two weeks.

Breaking: Buhari nominates INEC RECs for Senate confirmation

President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the names of 28 nominees for confirmation as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Buhari made the nomination in a letter read by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at plenary today.

The nominations followed the expiration of the tenures of RECs in 28 states.

2019 Polls In Danger Without RECs – Senate

The Senate on Tuesday said there were signs that the 2019 general elections would be inconclusive without enough Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to oversee it.

This followed a motion by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and supported by the Senate Leader Ali Ndume.

Ekweremadu expressed concerns that the rate of inconclusive elections in many states showed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was endangering the nation’s democracy.

He alleged that at least 20 states had no REC, adding that the development was contrary to the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

“The developments after a few electoral exercises carried out so far by our electoral umpire have left much to be desired.

“We are worried about the fate of the 2019 general elections in the face of the present state of inconclusive elections and postponements.

“We are worried that the trend of inconclusive elections and whimsical postponement of elections are wrong signals and symptoms that cannot just be dismissed with the wave of hands,’’ he said.

Ndume, on his part, said the lawmakers would be failing if they saw something wrong and failed to point it out.

“It is better to take wrong decisions than not to take any decision at all,’’ he said.

The Deputy Senate Leader Bala Na’Allah said it was unfair that certain sections of Nigeria were not being represented in the National Assembly, saying it is contrary to the constitution.

Credit: NAN