Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval to Sack Three INEC RECs
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate’s approval to dismiss three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from Sokoto, Adamawa, and Abia states over alleged misconduct during the 2023 general elections.
The president’s request was contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which was read during the Senate’s plenary session on Wednesday,
The affected RECs are Ike Uzochukwu (Abia), Hudu Yunusa-Ari (Adamawa), and Nura Ali (Sokoto). They had previously been suspended by INEC before President Tinubu assumed office.
In his letter, President Tinubu emphasized that the suspension of the electoral officials had been in place since March 2022 predating his administration. He urged the Senate to act promptly on his request.
“The Senate is invited to note that the three Resident Electoral Commissioners have been suspended for misconduct since March 2022 before the advent of the current administration,” Tinubu stated in the letter.
“While I trust that the Senate will consider this request expeditiously, please accept, distinguished senators and distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
The affected electoral officials were accused of engaging in misconduct during the 2023 general elections, leading to their suspension by INEC. Notably, Hudu Yunusa-Ari (Adamawa REC) was at the center of controversy when he declared Aisha Binani Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Adamawa governorship election while collation was still ongoing.
His actions sparked national outrage and led to an official reversal by INEC, which later announced Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected governor.
The Senate is expected to deliberate on the president’s request in the coming days, with many observers watching closely to see how lawmakers will respond to the call for their outright dismissal.
