Three Resident Electoral Commissioners who had been suspended since 2023 for violating the Independent National Electoral Commission Act have been cleared to be fired by the Nigerian Senate.
Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request that the Senate revoke the appointments of the troubled State Resident Electoral Commissioners for Adamawa, Sokoto, and Abia, the approval was granted.
Michael Bamidele Opeyemi, the motion’s sponsor and Senate leader, requested that Section 157 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 revised Constitution be invoked, claiming that the provision gives the Chamber the authority to grant the request.
Dr. Nura Ali, the resident electoral commissioner of Sokoto State; Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, the resident electoral commissioner of Adamawa State; and Professor Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu, the resident electoral commissioner of Abia State, will all have their positions terminated.
“Aware that the above Resident Commissioners were previously suspended in 2023, based on allegations of violations of the Electoral Act; compromise of elections and abandonment of duty without compelling reasons,” he stated.
The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) indicted Dr. Nura Ali in their reports after she admitted to corruption, incompetence, and accepting a $150,000 bribe from politicians, according to a copy of the motion seen on Wednesday.
The Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, presided over the plenary, which reportedly approved the termination of the appointments of the impacted Commissioners and activated the pertinent provisions of the Constitution.
