BUHARI SUMMONS COUNCIL OF STATE

President Muhammadu Buhari called for the Council of State meeting on Wednesday. The Council is expected to ratify the appointment of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, as well as consider possible nominees for the positions of National and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Also, appointment of new National Commissioners for the National Population Commission is expected to be considered. However, coming on the heels of the economic recession bedeviling the nation, discussions to the current impasse might also be on the agenda

Attendees include former President Goodluck Jonathan, interim President Ernest Shonekan and former military Head of State Abduulsalami Abubakar. This is the first time Mr. Jonathan is attending the Council of State meeting since he left power in 2015 as he was absent from the first meeting on October 21, 2015. Meanwhile, former leaders who are conspicuously absent at the meeting include: Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Shehu Shagari, Yakubu Gowon. Others at the meeting included state governors, the Chief Justice of the Federation, Mohammed Muhmud and former Chief Justices including Lawal Uwais, Dahiru Musdafa, Alfa Belgore and Alooma Muktar.

The council, which comprises all former presidents and heads of states, as well as vice president, governors, Senate president and House of Representative speaker, is currently meeting.