To prevent potential legal challenges against the appointment of newly confirmed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), the Nigerian Senate will convene an emergency plenary session today.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu nominated ten individuals for REC positions, and the Senate approved seven of them on Wednesday and three more on Thursday. However, objections have been raised against two of the appointees, Etekarnba Umoren of Akwa Ibom State and Isah Shaka Ehimeakne of Edo State.
A coalition of 17 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has petitioned the Senate, urging them to reject Umoren and Ehimeakne due to their alleged involvement in partisan activities. Despite these objections, the Senate proceeded with their confirmation.
The Senate’s move to hastily approve the REC appointments has raised concerns that they are attempting to shield these individuals from potential court injunctions. By quickly approving the votes and proceedings of Thursday’s session, the Senate aims to finalise the appointments before any legal challenges can be filed.
In addition to addressing the REC appointments, the Senate will also consider and approve the report of the joint National Assembly Committee on Appropriations on the N2.17 trillion Supplementary Appropriation Bill for 2023. Once approved, the Supplementary Budget will be transmitted to President Tinubu for his assent.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed that the Senate would hold an emergency session on Monday.
“The session is meant to approve the votes and proceedings of Thursday. We were so late in the Senate Chamber on Thursday, and so many of our colleagues had already gone for public hearings and other Committee meetings. So we are just coming up to do just that,” he said.
