President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the Senate requesting the confirmation of nineteen (19) persons for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In his letter dated, 25 July 2022, read at the Senate’s plenary on Tuesday, 26 July 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari stated that his request was in line with the provisions of section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that:

“Except in the case of ex officio members or where other provisions are made in this Constitution, the Chairman and members of any of the bodies so established shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be appointed by the President and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate”.

President Buhari further stated in his letter that he will be renewing the appointment of five (5) nominees for a second and final term, while fourteen (14) others were new appointments for an initial term of 5years. The nominees are as follows:

1. Ibrahim Abdullahi (mni.) (Adamawa State)- Renewal of Appointment
2. Obo Effanga (Cross River State)- Renewal of Appointment)
3. Prof. Umar Ibrahim (Taraba State)- Renewal of Appointment
4. Prof. Agboke Mutiu Olaleke (Ogun State)- Renewal of Appointment
5. Prof. Samuel E. Egwu (Kogi State)- Renewal of Appointment
6. Onyeka Pauline Ugochi (Imo State)- New Appointment
7. Prof. Mohammed Lawal Bashar (Sokoto State) – New Appointment
8. Prof. Ayobami Salami (Oyo State)- New Appointment
9. Amb. Zango Abdulsamadu Abdu (mni.) (Katsina State)- New Appointment
10. Dr. Agundu Oliver Tarsuur (Benue State)- New Appointment
11. Prof. Yahaya Makarfi Ibrahim (Kaduna State)- New Appointment
12. Agu Slyvia Uchenna (Enugu State)- New Appointment
13. Dr. Nura Ali (Kano State)- New Appointment
14. Ahmed Yushehu Garki (FCT)- New Appointment
15. Barr. Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi State)- New Appointment
16. Prof. Uzochukwu Ikemefuna Chijioke (Anambra State)- New Appointment
17. Mohammed B. Nura (Yobe State)- New Appointment
18. Yomere Gabriel Oristemlebi (Delta State)- New Appointment
19. Mrs. Queen Elizabeth Agwu (Ebonyi State)- New Appointment

It is expected that the Senate Committee on INEC will conduct the screening of the aforementioned nominees following the Senate’s referral of the President’s request to the Committee for further legislative action.