Politics
Civil Society Organisations oppose Buhari nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners
Nine Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) yesterday opposed four nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari as Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC).
The civil societies which are working to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process called on Buhari to withdraw their nominations into the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to them, the nominees failed the constitutional test of non-partisanship and integrity.
They also urged the Senate to reject the nominees because they “fell short of the threshold of non-partisanship and impeccable character.”
The CSOs included: Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Centre for Media and Society, The Albino Foundation, Elect Her, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Partners for Electoral Reform and Inclusive Friends Association.
On July 26, 2022, the Senate announced Buhari’s appointment of 19 RECs following the expiration of the tenure of the outgone RECs in nineteen states.
Of the 19 nominated RECs, 14 were new appointments, while five were reappointed.
The new nominees included Pauline Onyeka Ugochi (Imo); Muhammad Lawal Bashir (Sokoto); Prof. Ayobami Salami (Oyo); Zango Abdu (Katsina); Queen Elizabeth Agwu (Ebonyi); Agundu Tersoo (Benue), Yomere Oritsemlebi (Delta); Prof. Yahaya Ibrahim, (Kaduna); Dr. Nura Ali (Kano); Agu Uchenna Sylvia (Enugu) and Ahmed Garki (FCT); Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi); Prof. Uzochukwu Chijioke, (Anambra); and Mohammed Nura (Yobe).
