Finally, senate considers confirmation of 27 RECs

The senate on Tuesday commenced the process for the confirmation of the appointment of 27 resident electoral commissioners (RECs).

The upper legislative chamber had delayed the exercise in protest of President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sack Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The senate rejected the nomination of Magu as EFCC chairman twice.

In March, the president sent a letter to the senate, asking it to confirm the appointment of the resident electoral commissioners‎.

But the upper legislative chamber was unwilling to do so, setting the stage for an executive-legislature stand-off.

Senate President Bukola Saraki only read the letter at the time with no further action.

But on Tuesday, he initiated a process that would see the confirmation of the appointment of the nominees.

He referred the president’s request to the committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)‎ for legislative treatment with a directive that it turn in its report in two weeks.

This is the first step of the exercise.