The Senate is still seething over Ibrahim Magu’s continued stay in office as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, despite its earlier rejection of his nomination.
When the Senate, therefore, considered the Presidency’s request for legislative approval for the nomination of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Tuesday, the legislators decided to abandon the process until President Muhammadu Buhari removes Magu from office.
The lawmakers insisted that their earlier decision on Magu be effected by the Executive. Peter Nwabaoshi, senator, urged the lawmakers to consider the example of the United States of America where, recently, the National Security Adviser was sent to the Senate but due to his belief in Russia, he was disqualified. “Here are we again today, now being given a list to confirm and we ‘merely confirm.’ Look at the list here, we have eight of them here out of 27 for reappointment, which means they are acting already; they are already working and they are still in position,” said Nwabaoshi.
Continuing, he said, “This country does not belong to them; this country belongs to the Nigerian people. The Nigerian people have elected us; they have given the power to look into those names sent to us for confirmation; to look into their credentials.”
Francis Alimikhena, another Senator, was not happy that after the Senate disqualified Magu he continued to act as EFCC chairman. “Magu is terrorising us because we disqualified him, and we cannot hide it. We disqualified Magu and he is terrorising our people because we disqualified him. And he is still acting and they (Presidency) are still bringing in nominations for us to confirm. If they know they can do it alone, let them do it,” Alimikhena noted.
Bukola Saraki, Senate president, ruled afrer a voice vote that the RECs confirmation be suspended for two weeks. Saraki also said the lawmakers agreed to protect the Senate from “attacks.” “The Senate, in a closed session on the various attacks on the National Assembly, especially on the Senate, for performing its constitutional duties, resolved to defend the integrity of the Senate against such attacks and will not be intimidated from carrying out our constitutional duties at all times,” he explained.
Many Nigerians see the action of the Senate as vendetta and capable of derailing the democratic process. For instance, Itse Sagay, chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, described the Senate’s action, as childish and irresponsible.
“It is a great mistake and they will regret it,” said Sagay. He explained that President Buhari could continue to appoint people in acting capacity where necessary. “Where the Senate is required to approve a person for a particular position and they refuse to do it, the person could continue to act depending on the nature of the appointment. However, if the nominee is coming from another sector, just like in the case of the RECs, it means they cannot act. However, people below that rank in INEC can continue to act as RECs all over the country as it has been done,” Sagay said.