Senate screens Buhari’s REC nominees

The Senate on Wednesday commenced the screening of the 26 individuals nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as Resident Election Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

IT will be recalled that the senate had earlier suspended the screening of the individuals over its face off with the executive branch of government.

Senator Ita Ewang, the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly, formally presented the nominees to the Senate Committee on INEC for screening.

The first batch of eight nominees was screened on Wednesday and the exercise is expected to continue on Thursday.

While the appointment of some of the commissioners is new, others are, however, reappointments.

Those for new appointments 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).

Those for reappointment are 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).