The Senate has officially approved the dismissal of three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), acting on a request from President Bola Tinubu and invoking Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The affected officials, as announced by the Senate Majority Leader, include Dr. Nura Ali (Sokoto State REC), Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari (Adamawa State REC), and Professor Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu (Abia State REC). These officials were previously suspended in 2023 over allegations of electoral misconduct, including violations of the Electoral Act, election manipulation, fraud, and dereliction of duty.
Security reports from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services (DSS) indicated that Dr. Nura Ali was implicated in compromising the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections through incompetence and corruption, including admitting to receiving $150,000 from politicians.
Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari had been suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari after unlawfully declaring a governorship election result, an act that was outside his jurisdiction.
Professor Uzochukwu was found guilty of mismanaging election logistics, abandoning his duties during the Governorship and State Assembly elections, and failing to reschedule supplementary elections.
Under Section 157(1) of the Constitution, which allows for the removal of officials due to misconduct or inability to perform their duties, the Senate voted with a two-thirds majority to approve their dismissal.
Following this resolution, the Senate has instructed the Clerk to formally notify President Tinubu for the implementation of the decision.
