President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn the appointments of two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing the need for constitutional compliance.The move comes after Tinubu had earlier announced the appointments of Mohammad Ngoshe and Owede Eli as
RECs for Borno and Bayelsa states, respectively. In a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday,
Tinubu rescinded the appointments, stating that he had reconsidered the nominations in light of constitutional requirements.
The President had previously sent a letter to the Senate on March 11, announcing the appointments of Ngoshe and
Eli. However, in a surprise move, Tinubu withdrew the appointments, opting instead to reappoint Umar Mukthar as
REC for Borno State and nominate Johnson Silnikiem as the new REC for Bayelsa State.
Three other commissioners, Umar Yusuf Garba (Kano), Saad Umar (Bauchi), and Chukwuemeka C. Ibeziako
(Anambra), retained their positions. The withdrawal of the appointments has sparked controversy, with some
observers questioning the reasons behind Tinubu’s decision.
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However, the President’s office has maintained that the move was necessary to ensure compliance with
constitutional provisions. The development has also raised concerns about the independence of INEC, with some
critics arguing that the President’s actions could undermine the commission’s autonomy. However, Tinubu’s
supporters have defended the move, stating that it was necessary to ensure that the electoral commission is
composed of individuals who meet the constitutional requirements.
The Senate is expected to confirm the new nominees in the coming days, with some lawmakers already indicating
their support for the President’s decision. However, others have expressed reservations, stating that the withdrawal of
the appointments raises questions about the President’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
As the controversy continues to unfold, Nigerians are watching closely to see how the situation will play out. The
development has also sparked a wider debate about the role of the President in appointing electoral commissioners
and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the process.
The INEC has also been drawn into the controversy, with some observers questioning the commission’s
independence in the face of presidential interference. However, the commission has maintained that it remains committed to conducting free and fair elections, despite the challenges posed by the controversy.
