BREAKING : Senate Confirms Eight REC Nominees, Rejects One

The Senate has confirmed eight Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent Electoral Commission .

The Senate has confirmed eight Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

The eight were among the remaining twelve nominees awaiting the confirmation of their appointments by the upper legislative house. The lawmakers had earlier approved the appointment of 15 others out of the 27 sent to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The confirmation is coming a day after the Senate made a u- turn on its earlier decision not to confirm any nominee from Acting President Yemi Osinbajo until all issues as regards confirmation of appointments are resolved.

Suleiman Nazif, Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC at plenary on Wednesday, said the nominees were screened by the police, Code of Conduct Bureau and Department of State Services before their appointments were approved.

He said the committee, however, rejected the nominee from Niger State, Mustapha Zubairu, because he is from the same senatorial district as Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner of INEC, North-central.

He explained that the committee was still making consultations on Mahmuda Isah (Kebbi) and Bello Mahmud (Zamfara).

The senators also agreed to step down the nominee of Rufus Akeju (Lagos) after Abiodun Olujimi, senator representing Ekiti south, presented a court ruling against him.

The detail of ruling was not disclosed but Senate President Bukola Saraki referred it to the committee on INEC to look into it and report back to the upper legislative chamber.

The confirmed nominees are:

Asmau Maikudi, Katsina

Sam Olumekun, Ondo

Riskuwa Shehu, Sokoto

Kasim Geidam, Yobe

Jibrin Zarewa, Kano

Abdulganiyu Raji, Oyo

Samuel Egwu, Kogi

Mike Igini, Delta