Senate Screens Ministers Next Week, Confirms Longpet INEC REC

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that the upper chamber would, next week Wednesday, screen the seven ministerial nominees forwarded to the chamber by President Muhammadu Buhari for confirmation.

Lawan stated this in an announcement on Wednesday, moments before the Senate adjourned plenary.

The chamber also confirmed Hale Gabriel Longpet (Plateau) as Plateau state Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The ministerial nominees will be screened on Wednesday, next week”, the president of the senate said.

President Buhari, in a letter dated 15th June 2022, requested the Senate to confirm the nomination of seven ministerial nominees.

He said the confirmation request was made by Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The nominees for confirmation include Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh – Abia State; Umana Okon Umana – Akwa Ibom State; Ekumankama Joseph Nkama- Ebonyi State; and Goodluck Nanah Opiah – Imo State.

Others are Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub – Kano State; Ademola Adewole Adegoroye – Ondo State; and Odum Udi – Rivers State.

The nominees will be screened individually by the upper chamber during the plenary.

Meanwhile, Longpet’s confirmation followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Electoral Matters.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South), in his presentation, said Longpet’s nomination was made under the provision of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

He disclosed that the nominee while appearing before the Committee for screening, gave explanations regarding his personal life, work experiences, suitability, competence and integrity for appointment as Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said members of the Committee commended the nominee’s impressive Curriculum Vitae and satisfactory answers to the questions posed.

The nominee was, thereafter, confirmed by the upper chamber.