‘We Didn’t Change INEC Commissioner Nominee’s Name’

The Senate has said that it didn’t change the name of a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) nominee from Niger State. 

According to the Senate, the Constitution does not give the lawmakers the power of nomination or substitution, adding that the president nominates, they screen and confirm before swearing in. 

There were insinuations that indications emerged yesterday that the REC who was not nominated by President Bola Tinubu was screened and confirmed by the Senate.

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq as electoral commissioner for Niger State amid insinuations that Prof Mohammed Yelwa was the one duly nominated by Tinubu. 

During plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq as representing Niger State who was also confirmed. 

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But speaking to LEADERSHIP yesterday, a ranking Senator who spoke when this paper could not reach the Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, said it was laughable that some people would think a name can be changed on the floor of the Senate. 

“The constitution does not give the Senate power to change a name sent from the president without his consent. The Senate and the Presidency must agree. In fact in this case, there is no way the Senate can change the name of a nominee. Constitutionally, we don’t have such power. 

“You think if the Senate change a name the presidency won’t take it up? Because it is not our job to nominate and change the name of a nominee without the president’s consent. So, that report is not true. It is pure lie,” he said. 

Also. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have declared that no one can change the name of the president’s nominee without his consent. 

According to the CSOs, such cannot happen, adding that there must be a disconnect among those raising such alarm. 

“Senate has no right to change the name. But because of misgovernance in Nigeria, some people can make such insinuations,” the CSOs said through their leader, Awwal Musa Rafsanjani.