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The Senate has confirmed the nomination of 15 nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), even as it failed to clear 12 others.
Prominent among states whose RECs were not cleared include Katsina, Lagos and Kano States.
Katsina and Lagos are the home states of President Muhammadu Buhari and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Bola Tinubu, respectively.
Although Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had forwarded the names of 27 nominees as RECs in February this year, the Senate Committee on INEC explained that 12 nominees are still undergoing screening.
The confirmation of 15 nominees followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on INEC at Thursday plenary.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the panel, Suleiman Nazif (APC, Bauchi State) revealed that while 12 of the 15 nominees are new appointments, the other three are for reappointments.
He said the remaining 12 nominees are still undergoing screening.
The nominees for new appointments include: Godswill Obioma (Abia), James Apam (Benue), Nkwachukwu Orji (Ebonyi), Illoh Joseph Chuks (Enugu), Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda (Plateau), Umar Ibrahim (Taraba), Emeka Ononamadu Joseph (Imo) and Ibrahim Abdullah(Adamawa), Obo Effanga (Cross River), Francis Ezeonu (Anambra), Briyai Frankland (Baylesa), Agboke Mutiu Olaleke (Ogun), while those for reappointments are Hussaini Halilu Pai (FCT), Ahmad Makama (Bauchi) and Sadiq Abubakar Musa (Kaduna).
On the other hand, the nominees still undergoing screening include: Mike Igini (Delta), Jibrin Ibrahim Zarewa (Kano), Asmau Sani Maikudi (Katsina), Mahmuda Isah (Kebbi), Samuel Egwu (Kogi), Rufus Akeju (Lagos), Mustapha Zubairu (Niger) and Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun (Ondo).
Others are: AbdulGaniyu Olayinka Taju (Oyo), Riskuwa Shehu (Sokoto), Kasim Gana Geidam (Yobe) and Ahmad Bello Mahmud (Zamfara).
The Senate had on March 28, 2017, suspended the screening and confirmation of the 27 RECs due to the failure of the President to remove the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
However, it rescinded its decision on Tuesday May 2, as Senate President Bukola Saraki explained that this was done in national interest.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
