The Senate has decided to reconsider nominee for the position of resident electoral commissioner, representing Zamfara state on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ahmed Mahmud.

What happened:

The Senate had earlier rejected Mahmud’s nomination after senators from Zamfara questioned his citizenship.

The senators had said Mahmud was not from the state and could not represent Zamfara at INEC.

What is happening:

Kabir Marafa, senator representing Zamafara central on Tuesday sponsored a motion calling for a reconsideration.

Marafa said the nominee was born in the state and has held public office, which he said were the required qualification for the role.

“Mr president I want to come under 42 and 53. My colleagues will recall that on Thursday last week, precisely on the 23rd of November 2017, the senate committee on INEC presented to this chamber a report on the screening exercise regarding the resident electoral commissioner for states and in that report they recommended that the nominee from Zamfara state based on extensive consultation – my colleague from Zamfara north said the nominee be rejected based on the reason that he is a non-indigene,” Marafa said.

“The committee’s report suggest otherwise, the committee stated in clear terms that the nominee was born in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara, schooled in Gusau and was one-time attorney-general of Zamfara state.

“Mr president one wonders what qualifies a Nigerian to be indigene of a state and in view of that I want to take full advantage of order 53 (6) to seek support of my well respected colleagues to do justice to this matter.”

Azeez