The Senate has officially terminated the appointment of three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) following a request from President Bola Tinubu. The dismissal was carried out under Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which permits the removal of officials on grounds of misconduct or inability to perform their duties.

The affected officials, as announced by the Senate Majority Leader, are:

• Dr. Nura Ali (Sokoto State REC)

• Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari (Adamawa State REC)

• Professor Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu (Abia State REC)

The three had been suspended in 2023 over allegations of electoral malpractice, including violations of the Electoral Act, election fraud, and abandonment of duty.

Security reports from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services (DSS) revealed damning findings:

• Dr. Nura Ali was accused of compromising the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections, allegedly accepting a $150,000 bribe from politicians.

• Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari was suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari after unlawfully declaring a governorship election result, an act 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, the Senate voted with a two-thirds majority to approve their dismissal. The Clerk of the Senate has been directed to formally communicate the decision to President Tinubu for implementation.