Senate Okays Tinubu’s Request To Sack Three RECs

The Senate on Wednesday gave President Bola Tinubu the nod to sack Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in three states for gross misconduct.

The affected RECs, who had been on suspension since 2022/2023, are Ike Uzochukwu (Abia), Hudu Yunusa-Ari (Adamawa), and Nura Ali (Sokoto).

The president’s request was granted following a letter addressed to the Senate and read at plenary by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

The former Adamawa REC, Yunusa Ari, almost derailed the state’s governorship election when he usurped the role of the Returning Officer and announced Mrs Aisha Banani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner.

It turned out that Ari compromised the integrity of the process after allegedly receiving $150, 000 bribe from one of the parties.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who moved the motion, cited Section 157(1)
of the Constitution to back President Tinubu’s request.

Minority Leader, Abba Moro, who supported the motion, said sacking the errant RECs would serve as deterrent to other public office holders.

“This administration has promised Nigerians that they will fight corruption,so for this reason the termination will serve as a deterrence to those in public service,” Moro said.

Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, also backed the reauest to sack the RECs as requested by the president.

“The philosophical cornerstone of this motion is to reinforce section 157(1) of the constitution. We have been called upon to discharge our duties to protect the integrity of public offices,”. Monguno asaid.

The motion received an overwhelming voice vote as the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio brought down the gavel to seal the request.

Senate Okays Tinubu’s Request To Sack Three RECs is first published on The Whistler Newspaper