President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn the appointments of two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and has submitted a revised list of nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during Tuesday’s plenary, read a letter from Tinubu announcing the withdrawal of Mohammad Ngoshe, representing Borno State, and Owede Kosioma Eli, representing Bayelsa State.
The two individuals were initially nominated in a letter sent to the Senate on March 12.
However, in the revised list, Tinubu reappointed Umar Mukhtar as the REC for Borno State while nominating Johnson Alalibo Silnikiem for Bayelsa State.
Other nominees, including Umar Yusuf Garba (Kano), Saad Umar (Bauchi), and Chukwuemeka Ibeziako (Anambra), remain unchanged.
Explaining the revision, Tinubu stated that the changes were necessary following his decision to approve a second term for the Borno State commissioner.
“In compliance with the provisions of section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I am pleased to forward for Senate confirmation the appointment of the following five nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the letter states.
“The distinguished Senate is invited to note that this letter, which supersedes my earlier one referenced presidency134/2 dated 12 March, is necessitated by my consideration and approval of the commissioner from Borno State for reappointment for a second term.”
The president urged the Senate to approve the revised nominations “in the usual expeditious manner.”
