The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Rhoda Gumus, a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, as a national commissioner (south-south) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Peoples Gazette had obtained Ms Gumus’ registration documents that confirmed her membership of the ruling party, an action that would violate the Nigerian Constitution if allowed to stand.

The Senate also confirmed six other nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari as commissioners and resident electoral commissioner of INEC.

The confirmation of the nominees on Wednesday at plenary followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on INEC.

Those also confirmed include Mohammed Haruna (North-Central, National Commissioner), May Agbamuche-Mbu (South-South, National Commissioner), Ukeagu Kenneth Nnamdi (South-East, National Commissioner), and Maj. Gen A. B. Alkali (Rtd) – Adamawa (North-East, National Commissioner).

Others are Sam Olumekun (South-West, National Commissioner) and Olaniyi Ijalaye (South-West, Resident Commissioner).

The committee chairman, Kabiru Gaya,(APC-Kano), in his presentation, recalled that Mr Buhari made the confirmation request in compliance with the provision of Section 153(1)(f) of the constitution and according to the provision of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

He disclosed that the committee received a petition from the Taraba Elders Forum against the nomination of Mr Alkali over what the forum called inconsistency in the rotation of the nomination.

According to Mr Gaya, the forum pointed out that the nomination started from Taraba (2003 – 2008), Adamawa (2008 – 2015) and ended with Gombe (2015–2021).

Mr Gaya, however, explained that the committee resolved that all the states (Taraba, Adamawa, and Gombe) had been nominated between 2003 and 2021, therefore, it was the prerogative of the president to pick his nominee from any of the three states.

Senators, including the Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and James Manager, spoke highly of the competence and credibility of the president’s nominees.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan, in his remarks after the nominees were confirmed, congratulated them while noting that the 2023 general elections would be a “baptism of fire” to test their efficiency.

(NAN)