20 RECs retire in August at end of term

• Term to expire by August – INEC Commissioner

THE terms of no less than 20 resident state election commissioners will begin to expire from Wednesday.

The PUNCH findings indicate that many RECs would step down from the electoral body between July 6 and August, at the end of their five-year term.

The electoral commissioners were among 27 officials appointed in 2017 by the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retired).

It has been learned that some of them have served their second term and are not eligible for re-election.

A REC, who confirmed the development to one of our correspondents, however, said he did not know whether INEC had informed the presidency of the vacancy.

He said: "The 20 RECs were appointed by the President in 2017. I would be leaving INEC in August. I don't know if INEC had briefed the Presidency so they could start looking for candidates. I think the president and his aides knew what to do."

Another Resident Electoral Commissioner, who confirmed the development, said: "Some RECs are leaving on Wednesday, but I'm not one of them. Because there was a delay in our selection by the Senate, some of us wouldn't go now, but four people are also going in August."

The Senate is required under Section 154 of the 1999 Constitution to select persons appointed to serve as National INEC Commissioners and Resident Election Commissioners.

The provision reads as follows: "Except in the case of ex-officio members or where other provisions are provided for in this Constitution, the president and members of any of the bodies as well shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be appointed by the President and the appointment shall be subject to the confirmation of the Senate."

In accordance with the provisions of Section 14(3)(a) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Buhari had requested the Senate to confirm the 27 nominees in 2017.

The candidates were then confirmed and appointed by the Senate as Resident Election Commissioners.

They include Professor Godswill Obioma (Abia); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa); Alhaji Ahmad Makama (Bauchi); James Apam (Benoue); Mike Igini (Delta); Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji (Ebonyi); Dr. Illoh Chuks (Enugu); Hussaini Pai (FCT); Sadiq Moussa (Kaduna); Jibrin Zarewa (Kano); and Dr. Asmau Maikudi (Katsina).

The others are Dr. Mahmuda Isah (Kebbi); Professor Samuel Egwu (Kogi); Amb Rufus Akeju (Lagos); Pr Mustapha Zubairu (Niger); Agboké Olaleke (Ogun); Sam Olumekun (Ondo); AbdulGaniyu Taju (Oyo); Professor Riskuwa Shehu (Sokoto); Kasim Geidam (Yobe); Ahmad Mahmud (Zamfara); Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda (Plateau); Omar Ibrahim (Taraba); Prof. Francis Ezeonu (Anambra); Mr. Emeka Joseph (Imo); Obo Effanga (Cross River) and Dr. Briyai Frankland (Bayelsa).

This log could not confirm whether any of the outgoing RECs would be reappointed for another term.

Some of them were found to be pushing for reappointment before their terms expired.

Some of the relevant officials declined to comment when contacted by our correspondents on Monday.

Attempts to get a reaction from the presidency were unsuccessful as the President's Senior Special Assistant for Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, could not be reached for comment.

But a presidential aide who spoke on condition of anonymity said the president would write to the National Assembly "at the appropriate time".

The INEC National Electoral Commissioner for Voter Information and Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, has confirmed the impending vacancy on the commission.

"Their terms would expire by August." Their terms expire differently. If you call me back, I can give you the exact number that's on this week; I have to check my books,” he said on Sunday.

But Okoye could not be reached for further details on Monday as he reportedly met with stakeholders in Osun State ahead of the July 16 gubernatorial election in the state .

Last December, the President appointed five people as National INEC Commissioners and one person as Resident Electoral Commissioner to replace the INEC Commissioners whose terms had expired. expiration.

Of the five national commissioners appointed, Mohammed Haruna and May Agbamuche-Mbu have been reappointed.

A former federal INEC commissioner, Professor Lai Olurode, said RECs and national commissioners both serve five-year terms, but can be reappointed for a second term after went through the new term...