Senate Confirms Mohammed Haruna, 6 Others As INEC Commissioners

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Daily Trust reports that the Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of six nominees as National Commissioners, and one other as Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The confirmation followed the consideration of a report by its committee on INEC, chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano).

President Muhammadu Buhari had, in a letter dated December 10, 2021, requested the Red Chamber to confirm the nominees.

Buhari explained that the request was made pursuant to paragraph 14 of Part (1) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Senator Gaya, in his presentation, said the nominees responded to the committee’s questions satisfactorily and assured of their integrity, non-partisanship, non-card-carrying membership of any political party and promised to discharge their assignments diligently and in accordance with extant laws and laid down rules.

The nominees confirmed are Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner (Niger – North Central); Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu (Delta – South-South); Ukeagu Kenneth Nnamdi (Abia – South East), and Major General A. B. Alkali (rtd) – Adamawa, (North East).

Others are Prof Rhoda H. Gumus (Bayelsa – South-South), Mr Sam Olumekan (Ondo – South West), and Olaniyi Olaleye Ijalaye (Ondo – South West), Resident Electoral Commissioner.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan congratulated the nominees and urged them to live up to expectations.

He said as the 2023 general elections draw near, INEC has no reason not to perform creditably well after getting much supports from the National Assembly.

He also said the National Assembly expects President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill transmitted to him on Monday for INEC to have an updated document to conduct off circle and general elections.