PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI APPOINTS NEW INEC CHAIRMAN FOR KOGI AND BAYELSA POLLS

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, of the federal republic of Nigeria on Wednesday, raised hopes of the conduct of the governorship polls in Kogi and Bayelsa states, scheduled for November 21 and December 5 respectively, following the appointment of a new chairman for the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu, and six national commissioners.
All the new appointments were seen as a deliberate move by the president to douse rising public apprehension that the elections appeared threatened, owing to  lack of quorum at INEC headquarters, because of the exit of most of national commissioners at the expiration of their tenure, coupled with the interim chairmanship of Mrs Amina Zakari.
There had been outrage over the appointment of Zakari on two grounds— that she hails from the same state with the president and that her tenure as national commissioner had expired in July.
The hitherto INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega and six national commissioners left the commission on June 30, at the end of their five-year tenure, having been sworn into office on June 30, 2010 by former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
But, Section 159 of the 199 Constitution 1999 (as amended), expressly stipulates that not less than one-third of the total number of members shall form a quorum during meeting, while INEC comprise 12 national commissioners and 37 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
The new INEC helmsman hails from Bauchi State, while the tenure of Mrs Zakari was renewed for another five years as a national commissioner.
Yakubu’s appointment followed an emergency meeting of the National Council of State (NCS), presided over by the president, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
The meeting, which was the first NCS meeting to be convened by the present administration, was attended by former Nigerian leaders, including General Yakubu Gowon, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and General Abdusalami Abubakar.
Former presidents Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan were, however, absent.
Also, President Buhari named new federal electoral commissioners to fill the vacancy created by the expiration of the tenure of some federal commissioners some months ago.
Those appointed alongside Zakari, are Dr Anthonia Taiye Okoosi-Sinbime for North-Central, Dr Mohammed Mustapha Lekki from Edo State, representing South-South, Prince Soyebi Solomon from Ogun State appointed to represent North-Central, Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo from Borno State, representing North-East while Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku remains in his position as the federal commissioner, representing South-East geopolitical zone.

Reps adjourn plenary over Council of State meeting
The House of  Representatives, on Wednesday, adjourned its plenary session till today, to enable the Speaker,, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, to attend Council of States meeting at the Aso Rock Villa.
Honourable Dogara’s deputy, Honourable Lasun Yusuf, who ought to stand in for him was away attending the ongoing Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, holding in Geneva, Switzerland.
However, the House adjourned after the first reading of seven bills, which include Nigerian Ports and Harbour Authority Bill, 2015 (HB.50), Public Officers Protection Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (HB.54).
Others are National Agency for Training and Regulation of Vocational Trades (Establishment) Bill, 2015 (HB.55), National Youth Service Corps Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (HB. 80), National Youth Service Corps Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (HB. 82), National Council for Elderly Persons (Establishment) Bill, 2015 (HB. 84), Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, 2015 (HB.86).
Chairman, House Ad hoc Committee on Rules and Business, Honourable Yisa Orker-Jev, while commenting on why the plenary was adjourned, said the Speaker had to call for the adjournment to enable him attend the Council of State meeting, in order to represent the legislature.