One of the lawyers of Shiite leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky, has been nominated to be appointed as a national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

TORI News reported earlier today that President Muhammadu Buhari, asked the Senate to confirm some nominees as commissioners of the National Population Commission as well as other nominees for commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“In accordance with the provision of section 154(1) of the 1999 constitution as amended, I rise to forward to the distinguished senators the name of Barrister Festus Okoye for confirmation as National Commissioner representing South-east geopolitical zone,” the Senate President, Bukola Saraki read the request letter of the president at the upper legislative chamber.

He added; “While hoping that this request will receive the usual expeditious consideration, please accept Mr President the assurances of my highest regards.”

Festus Okoye, one of the lawyers of Ibrahim Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), was among the presidential nominees for the national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

An indigene of Imo state, Okoye is the executive director of Human Rights Monitor. He is also a solicitor at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

In an interview he granted DailyTrust last year, Okoye listed the case of Zakzaky among the two most challenging in his 33-year career.

“The case of El-Zakzaky that I’m handling now is what they call a ‘don’t touch’ case. But I did, because I believe that what defines a lawyer is the principle he cherishes, your ability to stick to that first principle of Law they taught us in the university, to believe in the rule of law and law process, and that in terms of fundamental rights, I may not like what you believe in, but still defend it. That is exactly the point with the case I am handling now,” he had said.

“The truth of the matter is that, people have already profiled him and his movement as violent, as people who are not good Muslims and therefore not entitled to fundamental rights protections in our constitution. But I say, no, the constitution which all of us have said is the supreme law of the land says the right to believe or not is personal to me. So long as I don’t breach the law. And if I do, you must take me to court. That is the bottom line.”