It was another bad day for democracy in Nigeria as the Senate Tuesday suspended the confirmation of the 27 resident electoral commissioners, RECs, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The lawmaker representing Delta north, Peter Nwaoboshi, had moved a motion that the exercise be suspended based on the refusal of the Executive to accept Senate’s rejection of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

In their submissions, lawmakers, who contributed to the debate, pointed out that the Legislature should not approve more nominations by the Executive. They wondered the relevance of their role if the Executive could keep Magu after he was rejected.

However, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, who presided over the plenary pleaded that the confirmation be suspended for two weeks, which was unanimously approved by his colleagues.