Senate backtracks on presidential nominees
The Senate yesterday backtracked on its resolution to not hold confirmation hearing for presidential nominees. The Senate and the presidency are embroiled in a dispute over the continuing stay in office of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
The upper chamber twice turned Magu’s nomination and lately demanded that he be kicked out of office.
In response, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, said Magu remained EFCC chairman adding that the Senate’s confirmation is not even required based on certain sections of the constitution.
The Senate on July 4 suspended further confirmation hearing for any nominee until the acting president apologises and withdraws his comment.
But yesterday after an executive session, the Senate resumed the consideration of issues relating to confirmation with presentation of report of its INEC committee.
The committee submitted its report on the screening of 12 nominees for the position of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
President Buhari in March, nominated 27 RECs 15 of whom were confirmed on June 1. But
Committee Chairman, Suleiman Nazif (APC, presented the report yesterday’s plenary.
Our correspondent Senator Bauchi) during reports that the consideration of the report and confirmation of the nominees is expected to commence soon.
The report was presented six weeks after 15 of the nominees were confirmed. Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo had since sworn in 14 RECs.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said at end of the session that issues relating to the workings of the Senate were discussed at the session.
The 12 nominees are: Dr. Asmau Sani Maikudi (Katsina), Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun (Ondo), Dr. Mahmuda Isah (Kebbi), Ambassador Rufus Olorruntoyin Akeju (Lagos), Professor Riskuwa A. Shehu (Sokoto), Barrister Kasim Gana Geidam (Yobe), Jibrin Ibrahim Zarewa (Kano), Abdulganiyu Olayinka Raji (Oyo), Professor Samuel Egwu (Kogi), Barrister Mike Igini (Delta), Professor Mustapha Zubairu (Niger) and Ahmad Bello Mahmud (Zamfara).
It was not clear yesterday why senators changed their minds to resume confirmation hearing.
But the acting president and Saraki last week met at the Presidential Villa and it is being speculated that a truce might have been struck at that meeting.
A Senator said the issue of confirmation was not part of the issues discussed at the executive session.
“The confirmation of RECs is a work in progress. As you know their screenings were done long before our resolutions on confirmation over Osinbajo’s comment. The presentation of the report is the second to the last leg of the confirmation processes.
“The issue was not discussed at the meeting. Though, the issue of our relationship with the executive came up but it has to do with Fashola. We discussed the issue of Fashola’s apology on his statement on budget, “a Senator who does not want to be named said.
Efforts to get the spokesperson of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi were unsuccessful as his two mobile phones were switched off as at the time of filing this report around 9.pm.