Senate suspends confirmation of INEC commissioner-nominees over Magu

Members of the Senate have called for the suspension of the confirmation of the 27 Nigerians as Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC). The then Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, had sought legislative approval for the nominations. The lawmakers, while speaking on the report by the Senate Committee on INEC at the plenary on Tuesday, pointed out that the Legislature should not approve more nominations by the Executive. This was due to the failure by the Presidency to remove the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, after his nomination had been rejected by the senate. The nominees are Prof. Godswill Obioma (Abia), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa), James Apam (Benue), Nwachukwu Orji (Ebonyi), Iloh Valentine (Enugu), Asmau Maikudi (Katsina), Mahmuda Isa (Kebbi), Prof. Samuel Egwu (Kogi), Prof. Mustapha Zubairu (Niger), Agboke Mutiu (Ogun), Abdul-Ganiyu Olayinka (Oyo) and Prof. Riskuwa Shehu (Sokoto). Others are Ahmad Mahmud (Zamfara), Nentewa Yilwatda (Plateau), Umar Ibrahim (Taraba), Emeka Ononamadu (Imo), Obo Effanga (Cross River), Prof. Francis Ezeonu (Anambra) and Briyia Frankland (Bayelsa). They also include Ahmad Makama (Bauchi), Mike Igini (Delta), Hussaini Pai (FCT), Sadiq Musa (Kaduna), Jibrin Zarewa (Kano), Rufus Akeju (Lagos), Sam Olumekun (Ondo) and Kasim Geidam (Yobe). President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, who presided over the plenary, however, pleaded that the confirmation be suspended for two weeks, which was unanimously approved.