By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Senate has confirmed five of the seven nominees forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari as Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The sixth nominee, Lauretta Onochie (Delta) was rejected, while the 7th, Prof. Sani Muhammad Adam (North Central), was stepped down for further investigation by the committee.
This was sequel to the adoption of the recommendations contained in a report presented to the Senate by its Committee on INEC.
Those confirmed include Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru (North-West), Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah (Katsina), Prof. Kunle Cornelius Ajayi (Ekiti), Dr. Baba Bila (North-East), and Saidu Babura Ahmad (Jigawa).
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South), said while speaking on the committee’s findings, that several petitions were made against the nominations of Ms. Lauretta Onochie and Prof. Sani Muhammad Adam respectively.
The Senator further stated that the petitions were focused on her membership and active participation in politics and membership of a political party.
Furthermore, he continued, her nomination violated the Federal Character Principle as there is already a serving National Electoral Commissioner from Delta State, Barr. Mary Agbamuche-Mbu, who was screened and confirmed by the 8th Senate.
Accordingly, the Committee, bound by the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amendment) on Federal Character Principle, declined to recommend her confirmation.
Sen. Gaya said: “Therefore, based on the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) on Federal Character Principle as earlier stated, and in order for the Committee and the Senate to achieve fairness to other states and political zones in the country, the committee is unable to recommend Ms. Lauretta Onochie for confirmation as a National Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
On Prof. Sani Muhammad Adam, he recommended that it be suspended, pending further legislative action by the committee.