Senator says Governor Yari is not from Zamfara state

Senator Kabir Marafa has taken a swipe on the governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday, November 23, 2017, submitted the names of two Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) nominee to the Senate -- Rufus Akeju and Mahmud Ahmed representing Lagos and Zamfara, respectively.

But, Governor Yari wrote a damning letter to President Buhari to discredit Mahmud.

The governor alleged that the nominee was from Kebbi state and not Zamfara as claimed.

Speaking at plenary on Thursday, December 21, 2017, Marafa said the nominee had served Zamfara state for several years and could deliver a REC nominee for the state.

The lawmaker disclosed that Yari’s was not from Zamfara state.

“My president in your wisdom when I came with a motion for a passionate appeal to my colleagues to do justice for an innocent Nigerian who was nominated to represent Zamfara state in INEC as a resident electoral commissioner,” Marafa said.

“You directed that the matter back to the committee for further legislative action. I took that wise counsel from you that the committee will do the needful even when I know that there is nothing they can add to what they have done because their report was quite explicit and extensive, Mr president order 1 (27) says 'in considering the appointment of a nominee, the committee shall not call to witness any person as witness other than the nominee himself.

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“However, there may be memorandum submitted to committee, if any such memorandum should contain the names of the writer, a verifiable address, a clear and dated signature and it shall be accompanied by an affidavit'

“It is very clear that the only opposition to this nominee is coming from the governor of Zamfara state who wrote to the president that the nominee is not from Zamfara state but from Sokoto state. My distinguished colleague from Zamfara north stood on the floor to say the nominee is from Kebbi State.

“The committee did a very good job when they said the nominee was born in Gusau, went to school in Anka, he served as the commissioner of justice in Zamfara for four years. The governor wrote a petition, he has a right to write a petition but he cannot violate our order - his petition is not accompanied with an affidavit, therefore his petition is null and void.

“I want to state very clearly that the governor has no right, this is senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are not his boys. I am not his boy and this senate cannot be his rubber stamp we are not hold somebody's future because of the interest of one particular one who is equally guilty.

In his remarks, Senate President Bukola Saraki urged the committee on INEC to ensure that justice is served.