President Bola Tinubu has officially withdrawn the appointments of two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The announcement was made through a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday.
Withdrawal of Ngoshe and Eli’s Appointments
According to the letter, President Tinubu has rescinded the appointments of Mohammad Ngoshe, the REC for Borno State, and Owede Eli, the REC for Bayelsa State. These changes come after Tinubu’s earlier communication to the Senate, which included their appointments on March 11.
New Appointments and Retentions
While Umar Mukthar was reappointed as the REC for Borno State, Johnson Silnikiem was named as the new REC for Bayelsa. Additionally, three other commissioners—Umar Yusuf Garba (Kano), Saad Umar (Bauchi), and Chukwuemeka C. Ibeziako (Anambra)—retained their positions.
Letter Details and Senate Request
The letter noted that the appointments were made in compliance with Section 154(1) of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). It further stated that this communication superseded the previous one dated March 12. President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process, expressing trust in the Senate’s swift action.
Conclusion and Senate Consideration
The letter concluded with a request for the Senate to promptly consider and confirm the nominees. President Tinubu conveyed his highest regards to the Senate in his closing remarks.
