Full List of Newly Confirmed INEC RECs and Their States as Senate Overrules Petitions Against Them
On Wednesday, October 6, the Senate confirmed all the 19 nominees appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2023 elections
The Red Chamber overruled petitions which accused some of them of being partisan and of being card-carrying members of the ruling All ProgressivesCongress (APC).
Source: Facebook
The upper legislative chamber said there was no concrete evidence or sworn affidavit to support the allegations levelled against some of them.
Of the 19 nominees, five were reappointed for a second and final term of five years, while 14 others had new appointments, according to Premium Times.
INEC RECS: Five nominees reappointed
- Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa)
- Obo Effanga (Cross River)
- Umar Ibrahim (Taraba)
- Agboke Olaleke (Ogun)
- Samuel Egwu (Kogi)
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INEC RECS: 14 freshly appointed nominees
- Onyeka Ugochi (Imo)
- Muhammad Bashir (Sokoto)
- Ayobami Salami (Oyo)
- Zango Abdu (Katsina)
- Queen Elizabeth Agwu (Ebonyi)
- Agundu Tersoo (Benue).
- Yomere Oritsemlebi (Delta)
- Yahaya Ibrahim (Kaduna)
- Nura Ali (Kano)
- Agu Uchenna (Enugu)
- Ahmed Garki (FCT)
- Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi)
- Uzochukwu Chijioke (Anambra)
- Mohammed Nura (Yobe).
Some nominees accused of being partisan
Legit.ng gathers that a group of civil society organisations faulted some of the nominees for allegedly being partisan and of questionable past.
They said Muhammad Bashir, the nominee from Sokoto state, was an APC governorship aspirant in 2015.
Similarly, Sylvia Agu, the nominee for Enugu state was alleged to be the younger sister of the APC deputy national chairman, southeast.
The group also said that the nominee for Imo state, Pauline Onyeka, a former Head of ICT at INEC in Imo state, was accused of corruption and connivance with politicians to undermine elections, among others.
Why INEC confirmed nominees despite petitions
The Senate committee chairman on INEC, Kabiru Gaya, acknowledged receipt of petitions against some of the nominees, ThisDay also reported.
However, he said during the screening, the indicted nominees were asked if they belong to political parties and if they had affiliations with such parties and that they responded in the negative.
Senator Gaya added, "there was no concrete evidence or a signed affidavit from the nominees to support the claims that they belong to a party."
INEC RECs: Reactions trail Senate's decision
Jude Ekwutozia commented on Facebook:
"Why will INEC officials be belonging to a party.....so INEC bodies is now by appointment of the Federal Government?"
Godwin Ebbeli said:
"APC is not ready for the 2023 polls."
Williams Osaru said:
"This national assembly ehen.. anything Baba bring must not be rejected oo."
Nkem Eke commented:
"The compromised people. Always have reasons to deceive themselves, and turn to look for who or what to blame, when their actions manifest its result.
"We have been suffering the consequences of the actions and inactions of those in governance of Nigeria.
"There may never be end to our sufferings, until we get servants of the people. For now, we have those after their personal well being and holding on to power."
INEC releases final list of candidates for presidential, senatorial and House of Reps elections
In another report, INEC, on Tuesday evening, September 20, published the final list of presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates for the 2023 general elections.
In a statement, the commission said it approved the final list of candidates “pursuant to section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and item 8 of the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election”.
According to INEC, there are 18 presidential candidates for the 2023 general elections. For the National Assembly elections, 1,101 candidates are vying for 109 Senatorial seats and 3,122 candidates for House of Representatives seats.
Source: Legit.ng
