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The Senate has officially terminated the appointment of three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) following a request from President Bola Tinubu, invoking Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The affected officials as read by the Senate Majority leader 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 compromise and fraud and abandonment of duty.
Security reports from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services (DSS) had revealed that Dr. Nura Ali was indicted for allegedly compromising the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections through incompetence and corruption, confessing 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 outside 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 allows for the removal of officials based on inability to perform duties or misconduct, the Senate voted with a two-thirds majority to endorse their dismissal.
In line with this resolution, the Senate has directed the Clerk to formally communicate the decision to President Tinubu for implementation.
