The Senate has formally terminated the appointments of three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) following a request from President Bola Tinubu, under Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The officials affected 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 fraud, and dereliction of duty.
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Security reports from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services (DSS) indicated that Dr. Ali was implicated in compromising the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections due to incompetence and corruption, and allegedly accepting $150,000 from politicians.
Barr. Ari was suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari for illegally declaring a governorship election result, beyond his authority.
Prof. Uzochukwu was found guilty of mismanaging election logistics, abandoning the Governorship and State Assembly elections, and refusing to reschedule supplementary elections.
Using Section 157(1) of the Constitution, which permits the removal of officials for inability to perform their duties or misconduct, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve their dismissal.
Following this decision, the Senate has instructed the Clerk to notify President Tinubu for implementation.