The Nigerian Senate has approved the termination of three Resident Electoral Commissioners who have been suspended since 2023 for flouting the provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Act
The approval followed the request from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the Senate to terminate the appointments of the embattled State Resident Electoral Commissioner for Adamawa, Sokoto and Abia.
Sponsor of the motion and Leader of the Senate, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi sought the invocation of Section 157 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, saying that the law empowers the Chamber to approve the request.
The affected officials as read by the Senate Majority leader are Dr. Nura Ali (Sokoto State REC), Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari (Adamawa State REC), and Professor Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu (Abia State REC).
They had been suspended in 2023 over allegations of electoral misconduct, including violations of the Electoral Act, election compromise and fraud and abandonment of duty.
He said, “Aware that the aforementioned Resident Commissioners were earlier suspended in 2023, bordering on allegations of infractions of the Electoral Act; compromise of elections and abandonment of duty without cogent reasons.”
Security reports from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services (DSS) had revealed that Dr. Nura Ali was indicted for allegedly compromising the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections through incompetence and corruption, confessing to receiving $150,000 from politicians.
Citing Section 157(1) of the Constitution, which allows for the removal of officials based on inability to perform duties or misconduct, the Senate voted with a two-thirds majority to endorse their dismissal.
According, the plenary which was presided by the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio activated the relevant provisions of the Constitution and approve the termination of appointment of the affected Commissioners.
