The Senate has stepped down the confirmation of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioners over what it de
The Senate has stepped down the confirmation of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioners over what it described as President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sack the rejected Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu. Recall that President Buhari had last week nominated 27 persons for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners of INEC and that twice also, the Senate had rejected to confirm Magu as the substantive boss of the anti-graft agency following reports from the Department of States Services, DSS, Mr. Magu failed the integrity test and as such, is unfit to head the EFCC.
Even though President Buhari ought to substitute Magu with another nominee for the position after the Senate’e rejection of him twice, the President has not taken any action to that effect. Coupled with the fact that the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Hameed Ali has refused to honour the Senate’s invitation to explain a Customs’ planned policy on payment of import duties on old vehicles on Nigerian roads as well as the refusal of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, to honour Senate’s invitation to explain his role in an alleged grass cutting fraud involving him, the Senate found it appropriate to vent their anger by suspending the confirmation of REC officers .
During Tuesday’s plenary, the Senate alluded to some members of the executive arm of the government wanting to bring its hallowed chambers to ridicule.
“If the Senate is ridiculed our institution has been ridiculed. We will try as much as possible to promote this institution,” said Senator Anyanwu. “Let’s hear from Buhari on Magu’s case, Magu is terrorizing us, because we disqualified him,” said Senator Francis Alimikhena.
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who asked the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to convey the feelings of the Senators to Mr. President added that, “there’s a time frame to stand down the confirmation.”
