Finally, Senate begins screening of 27 REC nominees

dimeji akinloye

May 2, 2017 6:56 PM

The Senate leader, Ahmed Lawan, presented Buhari’s request for approval of the nominees at plenary in Abuja.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki

The Senate has begun the screening of 27

The legislators had threatened not to treat the list of nominees based on the way the Presidency handled the refusal of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC.

It was, however, not clear why the upper chamber made a U-turn on Tuesday, May 2.

The leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, presented the president’s request for approval of the nominees at plenary in Abuja.

After the motion, the senate directed its Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission to screen the nominees and report back in two weeks.

The nominees are Prof. Godswill Obioma, Abia; Ibrahim Abdullahi, Adamawa; Alhaji Ahmad Makama, Bauchi; James Apam, Benue; Mr Mike Igini, Delta; Dr Nwachukwu Orji, Ebonyi; Dr Iloh Chuks, Enugu and Hussaini Pai, Federal Capital Territory.

Other are Sadiq Musa, Kaduna; Jibrin Zarewa, Kano; Mrs Asmau Maikudi, Katsina; Dr Mahmuda Isah, Kebbi; Prof. Samuel Egwu, Kogi; Dr Rufus Akeju, Lagos; Prof. Mustapha Zubairu, Niger; Agboke Olaleke, Ogun and Sam Olumekun, Ondo.

The list also contained names of AbdulGaniyu Raji, Oyo; Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, Sokoto; Mr Kasim Geidam, Yobe; Ahmad Mahmud, Zamfara; Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, Plateau and Umar Ibrahim, Taraba.

Mr Emeka Joseph, Imo; Obo Effanga, Cross River; Prof. Francis Ezeonu, Anambra and Dr. Briyai Frankland, Bayelsa, were also nominated.

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The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, directed that Sen. Suleiman Nazif (APC-Bauchi) should head the committee in the absence of its chairman, Sen. Ali Ndume, currently on a six-week suspension.

"In the absence of the chairman, Sen. Ali Ndume, Sen. Nazif will head the committee and the report should be brought back to the Senate in two weeks," Saraki said.

Ndume was suspended for asking the chamber to investigate Saraki for allegedly importing a bullet proof range rover with fake documents.

The suspended lawmaker also called for the investigation of Dino Melaye over his fake certificate scandal.

Saraki and Melaye have since been cleared of any wrongdoing by the senate committee on ethics and privileges.

dimeji akinloye