The All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed a dead man, late Tobias Chukwuemeka Okwuru, into the Federal Character Commission (FCC) board.
POLITICS NIGERIA reported how Mr Buhari sent the name of the late Ebonyi state Lawmaker that died in February 2020 and 36 others for appointment to the Senate for confirmation.
In a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA on Wednesday, the APC Ebonyi State Chairman, Mr Eze Nwachukwu, said the late Okwuru was alive when he was nominated for the position by the President.
He noted that the former lawmaker died in February while waiting to be screened and confirmed.
Nwachukwu, however, accepted responsibility and apologised for not informing the President about the death of the former lawmaker.
The statement read: “Okwuru was nominated ‘a living man’ in January, healthy, hearty for the position and he updated and submitted all his necessary curriculum vitae by himself.
“What happened is that in-between his nomination and letter conveying his nomination to the Senate, Okwuru painfully and sadly answered the ultimate call.
“We accept responsibility and take the blame because as a party we are supposed to have written the national leadership of our party and the Presidency informing them on the demise of Chief Okwuru as a ranking party member.
“But unfortunately, the family has not made the death official and has not commenced burial arrangements before the Coronavirus pandemic that led to lockdown, ban on burial and other social gatherings.
“So, it is the responsibility of the party to put the record straight and that is why we are using this medium to correct the erroneous impression.
“It is not the fault of Mr President and the Presidency that Okwuru’s name later appeared in the nominees’ list.”
