Why Buhari Won’t Drop INEC REC Nominees – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says President Muhammadu Buhari will not drop the names of those nominated as Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mohammed made this known to State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.

The minister was reacting to a call by some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) asking Buhari to drop the names of those nominated for the position due to their partisanship.

According to the CSOs, some of the nominees for INEC RECs are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), therefore violating the Electoral Act, 2022.

Speaking, Mohammed said President Buhari will not reject the nominees until it is proven that they are not members of the ruling party.

The minister stated that the nominees will have to face the Senate where they will be thoroughly interrogated before confirmation.

He, however, described the allegations as unfounded and a media trial, stressing that the trend is worrisome.

Ezenwoko’s Blog recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had in July asked the Senate to confirm 19 nominees as INEC RECs.

Five of the commissioners were presented for renewal while the other 14 were fresh appointments.

Senate Asked To Reject Buhari’s Nominations For INEC Commissioners

Recall that Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, had asked the Senate to reject the 19 nominees for the INEC RECs.

Speaking during an appearance on Channel Television last week Monday,  Itodo said the nominations were an attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government to capture INEC for political gain ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Itodo alleged that some of those nominees are partisan, hence their nominations should be immediately rejected by the Red Chamber.

YIAGA Africa boss also advised the Senate to ask the President to send new nominees for confirmation as INEC RECs.

He said the nominees would undermine INEC’s capacity to resist those who intend to circumvent the electoral process in 2023, adding that nominations are an aberration of the constitution.