…Ask senate to reject Bashir, Agu’s nomination
…SDP Gov candidate, lawyer threaten court action
By Ezeocha Nzeh
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, some Civil Spociety Organizations (CSOs) have described the alleged nomination of card carrying members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC), by president Muhammadu Buhari as an indication that the president has compromised the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commssion (INEC) as well as the 2023 general elections
President Muhammadu Buhari, on July 26, asked the senate to confirm 19 nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Buhari’s request was contained in a letter read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan on the floor of the upper legislative chamber.
His request was premised on section 154 (1) of the country’s constitution.
In the letter, the president said he was renewing the appointment of five RECs, while the remaining 14 were new appointments.
The RECs whose appointments were renewed are Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa) Obo O. Effanga (Cross River), Umar Ibrahim (Taraba), Agboke Mutiu Olaleke (Ogun), and Samuel E. Egwu (Kogi).
The new appointments are Onyeka Pauline Ugochi (Imo), Muhammad Lawal Bashir (Sokoto), Ayobami Salami (Oyo), Zango Abdussamadu Abdu (Katsina), Queen Elizabeth Agwu (Ebonyi); and Agundu Oliver Tersoo (Benue).
Others included Yomere Gabriel Oritsemlebi (Delta), Yahaya Makarfi Ibrahim (Kaduna), Nura Ali (Kano), Agu Sylvia Uchenna (Enugu), Ahmed Yushau Garki (FCT), Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi), Uzochukwu Ikemefuna Chijioke (Anambra); and Mohammed B. Nura (Yobe) were also on the list.
But opposition had faulted the nomination of Muhammad Lawal Bashir (Sokoto) and Agu Sylvia Uchenna (Enugu), who the alleged have affiliations with ruling APC
While Muhammad Bashir, the nominee from Sokoto State is said to had cpontested the APC governorship ticket in 2015 general election, Sylvia Agu, the nominee for Enugu State, is believed to be the younger sister of the APC National Vice Chairman, South-East, Emma Enukwu, and therefore should not be trusted with such sensitive appointment.
Rejecting the nominations, the Transformation Monitoring Group (TMG), advised President Muhammadu Buhari to uphold fairness ahead of the general elections in Nigeria.
The organization condemned the nomination of All Progressives Congress (APC) members for key positions in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
TMG in a statement signed by its Chairman, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani on Sunday, warned against any strategy that seeks to influence the process and outcome of the 2023 polls in favour of the ruling APC.
Rafsanjani said the appointment of card-carrying party members as INEC Commissioners and State Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) must not stand, noting that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is clear on the composition and structure of the electoral body.
He cited allegations that the recent “unmerited promotions and strategic deployments across the country” by INEC were to upturn votes or create inconclusive situations that will help unscrupulous politicians rig their way into power.
“We are more concerned by the potential impact of such a major push from the Presidency on the overall credibility, transparency, and integrity of the upcoming elections in 2023.
“Just as we condemn in totality the appointments of card-carrying members of any political party as a controlling strategy that can compromise the competence and objectivity of INEC.”
The group called on President Buhari to ensure the commitment of his administration’s fight against corruption by withdrawing the names of party members.
The TMG also called on the National Assembly to insist on democratic values and electoral integrity by rejecting the nominations.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Centre for Convention of Democratic Integrity, a United Nation-recognised body, Mr Femi Aduwo, said CCDI, among others, “vehemently condemns and opposes the nomination of Muhammad Bashir, the nominee from Sokoto State, who was a gubernatorial aspirant under the APC in the 2015 election.
“We also oppose Sylvia Agu, the nominee for Enugu State, who is believed to be the younger sister of the APC National Vice Chairman, South-East, should not be trusted with such sensitive appointment.”
In the same vein, a former vice president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and Ikeja Branch of the body, Dr Monday Ubani, has threatened to drag President Buhari and the Senate to court if they do not withdraw and reject the nominations of REC nominees deemed to the APC members.
Ubani, while reacting to protests by YIAGA Africa and TMG on the nominations, said the 2023 elections are very key to Nigerians in terms of leadership recruitment particularly as it affects electing the next president.
He called on Nigerians to mount pressure on the National Assembly to reject such persons like they did when an aide of Buhari and known card-carrying member of APC, Loretta Onochie, was nominated as INEC national commissioner.
“We can’t afford to repeat the mistake we made in 2015. We have all seen where the country has been brought to under Buhari’s rulership. So, we can’t afford to make another mistake in 2023 in terms of electing the next president of the country.
“This is why the people who will man the electoral body are very important. We must know who they are because the fairness of the process is important.
“If I have all the facts about those persons as we had with Onochie, I will be willing to go to court as a public interest lawyer. If I have the facts and evidence that they are questionable in their credentials as personnel that will man INEC offices,” he said.
Meanwhile, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Michael Lana, who has threatened to approach the court to challenge the nomination, which he described as unconstitutional. Lana, who is also the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate in the state, said the integrity of the 2023 elections would be compromised ab initio if such persons were allowed to man INEC offices.
“It is unconstitutional and should not be allowed to stand. If the president refuses to withdraw their nomination and the National goes ahead to confirm them, it then means the 2023 general election is already compromised.” he said.
