Refusal to Confirm INEC RECs Childish, Irresponsible and of No Effect – Sagay

Refusal to Confirm INEC RECs Childish, Irresponsible and of No Effect – Sagay

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday refused to consider the nominations of 23 persons whose names were forwarded to it by the presidency for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC RECs).

The lawmakers premised their decision on the failure of the president to sack acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu whose nomination as substantive chairman was twice rejected by the senate.

Senators argued that keeping Magu in office showed the presidency had no regard for the decision of the National Assembly.

In reaction to the controversial action of the senate, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC) and senior lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay SAN on Tuesday described the lawmakers as being childish and irresponsible.

He said, “That action is childish and irresponsible. Do they think Buhari is a man that can easily be threatened? My God! How can people of such character occupy the highest legislative office in the country? Nigeria is finished.

“It is a great mistake and they will regret it,” Sagay said.

The anti-corruption adviser said the senate action amounted to a futile affront to the presidency as President Buhari could continue to appoint people in acting capacity where necessary.

He said the refusal to confirm the RECs was of no effect since officials of the INEC had been acting as RECs for over a year.

Sagay added, “Where the Senate is required to approve a person for a particular position and they refuse to do it, the person could continue to act depending on the nature of the appointment.

“However, if the nominee is coming from another sector, just like in the case of the RECs, it means they cannot act. However, people below that rank in INEC can continue to act as RECs all over the country as it has been done.”

Punch reports that he added, “What this action means is that the Senate is being occupied by the most unserious set of Nigerians in history. Nigeria is currently at its lowest level because we have people who have no sense of responsibility, who have no feeling and are there for just vanity and are ready to bring down the country in order to feel important, it is the worst case of abuse ever.”