President Bola Tinubu has rescinded the appointments of two resident electoral commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
During plenary on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced Tinubu’s decision through a letter, confirming the withdrawal of Mohammad Ngoshe, representing Borno State, and Owede Kosioma Eli, representing Bayelsa State.
Tinubu had originally nominated them in a letter submitted to the Senate on 12 March.
In the revised appointments, Umar Mukhtar, the current REC for Borno State, has been reappointed, while Johnson Alalibo Silnikiem has been nominated as the new REC for Bayelsa State.
Other nominees, including Umar Yusuf Garba (Kano), Saad Umar (Bauchi), and Chukwuemeka Ibeziako (Anambra), will retain their positions.
The president justified the changes, stating they were necessary due to his decision to approve a second term for the Borno 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.”
Tinubu urged the Senate to confirm the revised list “in the usual expeditious manner.”
