BREAKING: Senate confirms six new INEC commissioners
The Senate has confirmed the appointment of six nominees as national commissioners.
The red chamber also on Wednesday confirmed another nominee as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The confirmation followed the consideration of a report by the committee on INEC, chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano).
President Muhammadu Buhari had in a letter dated December 10, 2021, urged the Senate to confirm the nominees.
Buhari explained that the request was made pursuant to paragraph 14 of Part (1) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Gaya, in his presentation, said the nominees responded to the committee’s questions satisfactorily and assured of their integrity, non-partisanship, non-card-carrying membership of any political party and promised to discharge their assignments diligently and in accordance with extant laws and laid down rules.
The nominees confirmed are: Mal. Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner (Niger – North Central); Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu (Delta – South-South); Ukeagu Kenneth Nnamdi (Abia – South East), and Major General A. B. Alkali (rtd) – Adamawa, (North East).
Others were Prof. Rhoda H. Gumus (Bayelsa – South-South), Mr. Sam Olumekan (Ondo – South West), and Olaniyi Olaleye Ijalaye (Ondo – South West), Resident Electoral Commissioner.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan congratulated the nominees and urged them to live up to expectations.
He said as the 2023 general elections draw near, INEC has no reason to perform creditably well after getting the necessary support from the National Assembly.
He also said the National Assembly expects President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill transmitted to him on Monday for INEC to have an updated document to conduct off circle and general elections.
