Senate Approves Tinubu’s Request To Sack 3 INEC RECs

The Senate on Wednesday approved the request by President Bola Tinubu to officially terminate the appointments of three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of Sokoto, Abia and Adamawa States.

The affected officials RECs include Dr. Nura Ali, Sokoto State; Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, Adamawa State; and Prof. Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu, Abia State.

The decision followed the Senate’s consideration of a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele during Wednesday’s plenary session.

President Tinubu, in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, requested the upper chamber’s approval to invoke Section 157 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to terminate the appointments of the three suspended RECs.

Senator Bamidele, while leading the debate, highlighted various allegations against the affected officials:

“Dr. Nura Ali was indicted by security agencies for allegedly compromising the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections through corruption and incompetence. Reports from the Department of State Services (DSS) revealed that he confessed to receiving $150,000 from politicians.

“Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari was suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari for unlawfully declaring the Adamawa governorship election results, usurping the role of the Returning Officer.

“Prof. Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu was suspended for mishandling election logistics, abandoning the governorship and state assembly elections, and failing to reschedule supplementary elections.”

The Senate cited Section 157 (1) of the Constitution, which states that: “…a person holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be removed from that office by the President, acting on an address supported by a two-thirds majority of the Senate, for inability to discharge the functions of the office or for misconduct.”

The request was unanimously supported when the motion was put to a voice vote by the Senate President.

The Senate has now forwarded its resolution to President Tinubu, who will take final action on the termination of office of the affected RECs.