President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn the appointments of Mohammad Ngoshe and Owede Eli as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for Borno and Bayelsa states, respectively. The President has nominated Umar Mukthar for reappointment as REC for Borno State and Johnson Silnikiem as REC for Bayelsa State.
This development was conveyed in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary session. The letter stated that the earlier appointments of Ngoshe and Eli, made on March 11, had been withdrawn.
In their place, Tinubu reappointed Umar Mukthar as REC for Borno State for a second term and nominated Johnson Silnikiem as REC for Bayelsa State.
The letter, in part, stated: “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 nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
The President explained that the withdrawal was due to his approval of Mukthar’s reappointment for a second term in Borno State. He expressed confidence that the Senate would promptly consider and confirm the nominees.
This move underscores the administration’s commitment to ensuring experienced leadership within INEC as the nation approaches future electoral processes.
