President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm the appointment of five nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, President Tinubu stated that the nominations were in line with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the president to appoint electoral commissioners subject to Senate approval.

The five nominees are: Umar Yusuf Garba – Kano; Saad Umar – Bauchi; Chukwuemeka C. Ibeziako – Anambra; Mohammad I. Ngoshe – Borno and Dr. Owede Kosioma Eli – Bayelsa.

“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 signed by the President read.

“While hoping that the Senate will consider and confirm the nominees in the usual expeditious manner, please accept Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

In another correspondence, President Tinubu sought confirmation for the nomination of Nwakuche Sylvester Ndidi as the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). The nomination aligns with Section 3(1)(b) of the NCoS Act, 2019, which stipulates the appointment process for the agency’s leadership.

Tinubu urged the Senate to approve the nomination expeditiously, highlighting the critical role of the Correctional Service in Nigeria’s justice system.

The request has been forwarded to the Senate Committee on Interior to report back in one week.