President Bola Tinubu nominated 10 persons for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), among several nominations he has made within the past month for various government establishments. President Tinubu wrote to the Senate requesting confirmation of the following persons:
1. Etekamba Umoren — Akwa Ibom State
2. Isah Shaka Ehimeakne — Edo State
3. Oluwatoyin Babalola — Ekiti State
4. Abubakar Ahmed Ma’aji — Gombe State
5. Shehu Wahab — Kwara State
6. Bunmi Omoseyindemi — Lagos State
7. Aminu Kasimu Idris — Nasarawa State
8. Mohammed Yelwa — Niger State
9. Anugbum Onuoha — Rivers State
10. Isma’ila Kaura Moyi — Zamfara State
Only one of the 10 nominees is a woman. On Thursday, November 2, the Senate screened 7 out of the 10 nominees and then went on to screen the other three nominees at its emergency session on Monday, November 6. Following the screening of all 10 nominees, the Senate confirmed all the nominees.
There has been concern and criticism regarding some of the nominations, with fears expressed that they may be tainted with partisan leanings. It continues to be a challenge the mode of appointment of election officials in Nigeria. There is an apparent absence of transparency in the way and manner election officials are appointed.