Victor Ezeja
Despite calls for President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw those nominated as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over claims of partisanship and corruption, there are indications that he won’t do so.
Buhari had on 26 July, sent a letter containing 19 names of nominees to the senate requesting their confirmation as RECs.
A group of Civil Society Organisations recently, issued a joint statement calling on the president to withdraw four of the REC nominees claiming that they are partisan or have history of corruption.
The four nominees are Muhammad Bashir (Sokoto), Sylvia Agu (Enugu), Pauline Onyeka (Imo) and Queen-Elizabeth Agwu (Ebonyi).
READ ALSO: CSOs To Buhari: Withdraw 4 INEC Nominees, They’re Partisan
The CSOs claimed that the nominees who are currently awaiting confirmation by the Senate, do not qualify for the appointment as their partisan interest would affect the discharge of their duties in INEC.
The group explained that appointments of INEC officers have grave implications for the credibility, independence and capacity of the Commission to deliver credible and transparent elections, adding that such explained why the constitution prescribes the criteria of neutrality, objectivity and non-partisanship of nominees.
Reacting to that, the Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, who spoke at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday, said the REC nominees would have to face the senate to confirm or reject their nomination, adding that the president is not bothered about the clamour for their withdrawal.
The minister said the allegations by the CSOs were mere media trials and challenged them to take the matter to the senate.
“As to the nominees that are being challenged by social media warriors and by some critics, I don’t think it is the business of the president to immediately throw out the nominees based on allegations which have not been proven.
“I think the whole idea is that these people will go for confirmation in the National Assembly, the same questions that are being raised in the public domain will be asked there.
“I think this media trial is quite worrisome because even when these people are cleared of any wrongdoings, nobody comes back to apologise to them. So, my advice is, yes, there will be allegations against anybody. It does not mean that that fellow is guilty. Let’s wait for the process to be completed,” the minister stated.
He further stated that the president has consistently insisted on having free and fair election in Nigeria and would not do anything to undermine that.
He added that no one should express doubt about having free and fair election in the 2023 general election.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
