The Senate has officially dismissed the appointments of three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in response to a request from President Bola Tinubu, citing Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The Senate Majority Leader read the names of the affected officials as Dr. Nura Ali (Sokoto State REC), Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari (Adamawa State REC), and Professor Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu (Abia State REC). These officials had been suspended in 2023 due to allegations of electoral misconduct, including violations of the Electoral Act, election compromise, fraud, and abandonment of duty.
Security reports from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services (DSS) revealed that Dr. Nura Ali was implicated for allegedly compromising the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections due to incompetence and corruption, admitting to receiving $150,000 from politicians.
Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari was suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari after unlawfully declaring a governorship election result, an action that was beyond his jurisdiction.
Prof. Uzochukwu was found guilty of mismanaging election logistics, abandoning the Governorship and State Assembly elections, and refusing to reschedule supplementary elections.
Citing Section 157(1) of the Constitution, which permits the removal of officials due to inability to perform duties or misconduct, the Senate voted with a two-thirds majority to approve their dismissal.
In accordance with this resolution, the Senate has instructed the Clerk to formally notify President Tinubu of the decision for implementation.
