2023: Why Buhari Won’t Drop INEC REC Nominees – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says President Muhammadu Buhari will not drop the names of those nominated as Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mohammed made this known to State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.

The minister was reacting to a call by some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) asking Buhari to drop the names of those nominated for the position due to their partisanship.

According to the CSOs, some of the nominees for INEC RECs are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), therefore violating the Electoral Act, 2022.

Speaking, Mohammed said President Buhari will not reject the nominees until it is proven that they are not members of the ruling party.

The minister stated that the nominees will have to face the Senate where they will be thoroughly interrogated before confirmation.

He, however, described the allegations as baseless and unfounded, adding that the media trial f the nominees is worrisome.

He said: “As to the nominees that are being challenged by social media warriors and by some critics, I don’t think it is the business of the president to immediately throw out the nominee based on allegations which have not been proven.

“I think the whole idea is that these people will go for confirmation in the national assembly. The same questions that are being raised in the public domain will be asked there.

“I think this media trial is quite worrisome because even when these people are cleared of any wrongdoing, nobody comes back to apologise to them.

“So, my advice is, yes, there’ll be allegations against anybody; it does not mean that fellow is guilty. Let’s wait for the process to be completed.”

Naija News recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had in July asked the Senate to confirm 19 nominees as INEC RECs.

Five of the commissioners were presented for renewal while the other 14 were fresh appointments.