No fewer than 20 state Resident Electoral Commissioners will retire by August as their tenures start expiring with effect from Wednesday.
Many of the RECs would retire from the electoral body between July 6 and August as their five-year tenure winds down.
The electoral commissioners were among the 27 officials appointed in 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was learnt that some of them had served their second term and are not eligible for re-appointment.
A REC, who confirmed the development to The Punch, however, said he did not know whether INEC has notified the Presidency about the vacancy.
He said, “The 20 RECs were appointed by the President in 2017. I would be leaving INEC in August. I’m not sure if INEC had notified the Presidency so they can start shopping for nominees. I believe 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 screening by the Senate, some of us would not be going now but four persons are also going in August.”
The Senate is required under section 154 of the 1999 Constitution to screen those nominated to the positions of INEC National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners.The provision reads, “Except in the case of ex-officio members or where other provisions are made in this Constitution, the Chairman and members of any of the bodies so established shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be appointed by the President and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.”
In compliance with the provisions of section 14 (3) (a) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Buhari had asked the Senate to confirm the 27 nominees in 2017.
Those nominated were subsequently confirmed and appointed by the Senate as resident electoral commissioners.
They include Prof. Godswill Obioma (Abia); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa); Alhaji Ahmad Makama (Bauchi); James Apam (Benue); Mike Igini (Delta); Dr Nkwachukwu Orji (Ebonyi); Dr Illoh Chuks (Enugu); Hussaini Pai (FCT); Sadiq Musa (Kaduna); Jibrin Zarewa (Kano); and Dr Asmau Maikudi (Katsina).
Others are Dr Mahmuda Isah (Kebbi); Prof. Samuel Egwu (Kogi); Amb Rufus Akeju (Lagos); Prof. Mustapha Zubairu (Niger); Agboke Olaleke (Ogun); Sam Olumekun (Ondo); AbdulGaniyu Taju (Oyo); Prof. Riskuwa Shehu (Sokoto); Kasim Geidam (Yobe); Ahmad Mahmud (Zamfara); Dr Nentawe Yilwatda (Plateau); Umar Ibrahim (Taraba); Prof. Francis Ezeonu (Anambra); Mr Emeka Joseph (Imo); Obo Effanga (Cross River) and Dr Briyai Frankland (Bayelsa).
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