Senate makes shocking U-turn, screens nominees from presidency

About two weeks after it boasted to high heavens that it will henceforth not consider requests for confirmation of nominees from the presidency, the Senate, on Wednesday, made a U-turn, when it received a report from its committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of 12 screened Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

Recall that the Senate, had on the 4th of July, 2017, vowed that requests from the presidency will not be considered until the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo withdraws a statement credited to him, wherein he was quoted to have said that the Senate does not need to confirm nominees from the executive arm.

As at the time of filing in this report, Acting President Osinbajo was yet to tender any apology or withdraw the controversial statement.

The position of the Senate a forthright ago, had followed the unveiling of a letter sent to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, urging the upper chamber to confirm Lanre Gbajabiamila as the substantive Director-General of the National Lottery Commission (NLC).

Senator Ahmed Yerima from Zamfara state, raised Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rules. In his submissions, he argued that since the Acting President had already concluded that the Senate lacked the powers to confirm nominees, there was no need to acknowledge any letter from the executive on issues related to confirmation.

The Senate had accordingly resolved that it will suspend any confirmation of nominees from the executive until issues relating to the power of the Senate to confirm are resolved.

Lawmakers equally passed a resolution and re-enforced its earlier position that all nominees rejected by the Senate should be relieved of their duties, with a particular reference to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.

At Wednesday’s plenary, the Senate received the report from its INEC committee. The twelve nominees are Mrs Asmanu Sani Maikudi from Katsina State, Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun from Ondo State, Mahmud Isah from Kebbi State, Rufus Oloruntoyin Akeju from Lagos State and Riskuwa Shehu from Sokoto State.

Others are Kassim Gana Geidam from Yobe State, Jibrin Ibrahim Zarewa from Kano State, Abdulganiyu Olayinka Raji from Oyo State, Samuel Egwu from Kogi State, Mike Igini from Delta State, Mustapha Zubairu from Niger State and Ahmad Bello Mahmud from Zamfara State.

The nominees are expected to be confirmed in the coming days or weeks.



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