Senate Approves Tinubu’s Request To Sack 3 RECs

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

The affected officials are: Dr. Nura Ali (Sokoto State), Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari (Adamawa State), Prof. Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu (Abia State).

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

President Tinubu, in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, requested the Senate’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.”

INEC falls under the provisions of this section, giving the Senate the authority to approve the official removal of the suspended RECs.

When the motion was put to a voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, it was unanimously approved.

The Senate has now forwarded its resolution to President Tinubu, who will take final action on the terminations.