Buhari Asks Senate to Confirm Mahmud Yakubu As New INEC Boss, Others

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Thursday, October 22nd, 2015

Ayodele Afolabi, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday sent a letter to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki requesting for the confirmation of appointment of Prof. Mahmud Yakubu as the new chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for a first term of five years.

He also requested for the confirmation of INEC national commissioners, including the acting chairman of the commission, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari from Jigawa State representing North West; Mr. Solomon Adedeji Soyebi from Ogun State (South West) and Dr. Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine (North East).Other national commissioners are Dr. Mohammed Mustafa-Lecky from Edo State representing South South; Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo from Borno State for North East geo-political zone.

President Buhari had on Wednesday proposed Yakubu as the new INEC chairman and six others as national commissioners of the commission.

The request was contained in a letter read by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, which was read on the floor to Senators.

The new INEC boss, a former executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, also served as the Assistant Secretary, Finance and Administration of the 2014 National Conference.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Alla has denied the report that he has agreed to step down from his position to pave way for reconciliation in the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Na’Allah was reacting to the report of a national daily on the leadership crisis in the senate, said no journalist contacted him and he did not speak with anyone on the matter.

The deputy leader, who spoke on the floor of the Senate yesterday, also dispelled speculations that he has agreed to trade his seat for a juicy committee.