REC’s lone female nominee denied appointment letter

One of the nominees cleared by the Senate as Resident Electoral
Commissioner (REC), Dr. Asma’u Sani Maikudi, has been denied her
letter of appointment due to pressure from some vested interest at
the Presidency, Daily Trust learnt yesterday.

The name of Dr. Asma’u, from Katsina State, who was nominated by
President Muhammadu Buhari in March, alongside 26 others to fill
the quota of 27 states, had reportedly passed all stages for the
appointment, including clearance from the DSS, the Code of Conduct
Bureau and was thereafter confirmed by the Senate on June 20.

It was gathered that though President Buhari pencilled her for
the post based on merit, some forces in the Presidency were
allegedly not comfortable with her representing Katsina State.

The Senate had divided the 27 nominees into two batches and
confirmed the first 15 on June 1.

On June 20, the Senate confirmed eight of the remaining 12
nominees including Dr. Asma’u Maikudi and deferred the confirmation
of four others.

Those whose confirmation was deferred included nominees from
Niger, Kebbi, Zamfara and Lagos states over some contentious
issues.

During their confirmation, the Chairman of the Senate Committee
on INEC committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC, Bauchi) told the
Senate that in the course of the committee’s interactions with
Maikudi, they were convinced of her suitability for the job.

Also in a telephone interview last night, a member of the
committee, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), said Dr.
Asma’u Maikudi’s choice was unanimously affirmed by everybody and
was a wise choice for the job.

Our correspondent reports that when a question was raised by the
Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki on her confirmation,
senators voted in support of the decision.

It was further gathered that the office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF) had on Monday issued letters of
appointment to all the remaining seven of the RECs that were
cleared by the Senate but the Katsina nominee was denied hers.

Those who got their letters included Mr Sam Olumekun (Ondo),
Prof. Riskuwa Shehu (Sokoto), Kassim Gana Gaidam (Yobe), Jibrin
Zarewa (Kano), Prof. Samuel Egwu (Kogi), Mr. Mike Igini (Delta) and
Abdulganiyu Raji (Oyo).

Speaking with the Daily Trust, Dr. Asmau Maikudi said she was
aware that her colleagues got their letters.

“We were all directed from the office of the SSA to the
President on National Assembly Matters to go to the SGF officer for
our letters ahead of our swearing-in. However, when we got there,
only seven letters were brought by the SA to the SGF; mine was
missing and I was only told that it was an order from above,” she
said.

Contacted, the Director of Press in the Office of the SGF, Mr.
Bolaji Adebiyi, said he was not briefed on the issue.

When told that other nominees cleared alongside Maikudi have
received their appointment letters, he said he was not aware and
that he would check today.

One of the nominees cleared by the Senate as Resident Electoral
Commissioner (REC), Dr. Asma’u Sani Maikudi, has been denied her
letter of appointment due to pressure from some vested interest at
the Presidency, Daily Trust learnt yesterday.

The name of Dr. Asma’u, from Katsina State, who was nominated by
President Muhammadu Buhari in March, alongside 26 others to fill
the quota of 27 states, had reportedly passed all stages for the
appointment, including clearance from the DSS, the Code of Conduct
Bureau and was thereafter confirmed by the Senate on June 20.

It was gathered that though President Buhari pencilled her for
the post based on merit, some forces in the Presidency were
allegedly not comfortable with her representing Katsina State.

The Senate had divided the 27 nominees into two batches and
confirmed the first 15 on June 1.

On June 20, the Senate confirmed eight of the remaining 12
nominees including Dr. Asma’u Maikudi and deferred the confirmation
of four others.

Those whose confirmation was deferred included nominees from
Niger, Kebbi, Zamfara and Lagos states over some contentious
issues.

During their confirmation, the Chairman of the Senate Committee
on INEC committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC, Bauchi) told the
Senate that in the course of the committee’s interactions with
Maikudi, they were convinced of her suitability for the job.

Also in a telephone interview last night, a member of the
committee, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), said Dr.
Asma’u Maikudi’s choice was unanimously affirmed by everybody and
was a wise choice for the job.

Our correspondent reports that when a question was raised by the
Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki on her confirmation,
senators voted in support of the decision.

It was further gathered that the office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF) had on Monday issued letters of
appointment to all the remaining seven of the RECs that were
cleared by the Senate but the Katsina nominee was denied hers.

Those who got their letters included Mr Sam Olumekun (Ondo),
Prof. Riskuwa Shehu (Sokoto), Kassim Gana Gaidam (Yobe), Jibrin
Zarewa (Kano), Prof. Samuel Egwu (Kogi), Mr. Mike Igini (Delta) and
Abdulganiyu Raji (Oyo).

Speaking with the Daily Trust, Dr. Asmau Maikudi said she was
aware that her colleagues got their letters.

“We were all directed from the office of the SSA to the
President on National Assembly Matters to go to the SGF officer for
our letters ahead of our swearing-in. However, when we got there,
only seven letters were brought by the SA to the SGF; mine was
missing and I was only told that it was an order from above,” she
said.

Contacted, the Director of Press in the Office of the SGF, Mr.
Bolaji Adebiyi, said he was not briefed on the issue.

When told that other nominees cleared alongside Maikudi have
received their appointment letters, he said he was not aware and
that he would check today.