The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointments of five individuals as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after reviewing and adopting a report submitted by its Committee on INEC.
The nominees who received the green light from the legislative chamber include Umar Yusuf Garba (Kano), Sa’ad Umar Idris (Bauchi), Chukwuemeka Ibeziako (Anambra), Umar Mukhtar (Borno), and Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem (Bayelsa). Each of them will serve a term of five years, in line with the constitutional guidelines for the position.
The confirmation was made following the presentation of the committee report by Senator Sharafadeen Alli, representing Oyo South under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Senator Alli, who leads the Senate Committee on INEC, noted that all five nominees had gone through necessary checks and were found to be suitable for the role, both constitutionally and professionally.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier sent the list of nominees to the Senate in a formal letter dated March 18, 2025. In the letter, the President requested that the Senate confirm the appointments as required by the Constitution.
“In compliance with the provision of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I am pleased to forward, for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of the following five (5) nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the letter stated.
Presiding over the plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated the confirmed commissioners and offered his words of encouragement. He said, “I wish them success as they take on the responsibilities of INEC, and urge them to act fairly and equitably to promote democracy and ensure justice for all.”
