President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially notified the Senate of the termination of three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from Adamawa, Sokoto, and Abia States.
The notification was conveyed through an executive communication from the President, requesting the invocation of Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to formalize the removal of the suspended RECs.
Presenting the motion by the senate leader Bamidele, Michael Opeyemi said the Senate was ware of an Executive Communication from Mr. President, to formally terminate the appointment of Dr. Nura Ali (Sokoto State Resident Electoral Commissioner); Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari (Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner) and Prof. Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu (Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner).
He further noted that the Senate acknowledges that the aforementioned Resident Electoral Commissioners were suspended in 2023 due to allegations related to Violations of the Electoral Act, Compromise of elections and Abandonment of duty without a valid reason.
The leader further noted, based on security reports from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services (DSS), that Dr. Nura Ali was indicted for compromising the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections through acts of incompetence and corruption.
According to the report, he allegedly confessed to receiving $150,000 from politicians during a DSS investigation.
Similarly, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari was suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari after a prima facie case was established against him for usurping the powers of the Returning Officer to declare the governorship election result.
While Prof. Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu was suspended for undermining the electoral process through mishandling logistics, abandoning the Governorship and State Assembly elections, and refusing to reschedule the supplementary elections, the Senate is aware that, by virtue of Section 157(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The senate after deliberation on the motion have unanimously affirmed the termination of the three Resident Electoral Commissioners.
COV/Bashir M
