- President’s move to terminate appointments of suspended RECs over gross misconduct gets green light.*
The Senate has granted President Bola Tinubu’s request to sack the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of Abia, Adamawa, and Sokoto States. The decision followed the adoption of a motion moved by the Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, during the plenary session presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The Suspended RECs
The affected RECs are:
– Ike Uzochukwu(Abia)
– Hudu Yunusa-Ari(Adamawa)
– Nura Ali (Sokoto)
The trio was suspended over allegations of gross misconduct prompting President Tinubu to seek their termination in line with Section 157(1) of the Nigerian Constitution.
“We have been called upon to discharge our duties to protect the integrity of public offices”
Senate Debate and Approval
While moving the motion, Senator Bamidele emphasized that the president’s request aligns with constitutional provisions. He stated:
This request is in line with Section 157(1) of the constitution, which empowers the president to remove public officers for misconduct.”
Contributing to the debate, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro argued that the sack would serve as a deterrent to other public officeholders.
This administration has promised Nigerians that it will fight corruption. For this reason, the termination will serve as a deterrent to those in public service,”Moro said.
Chief Whip Tahir Monguno also supported the motion, noting that the Senate had sufficient numbers (two-thirds) to approve the request, with **91 senators** present during the session.
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 stated.
The motion was eventually adopted after a voice vote conducted by Senate President Akpabio.
Implications of the Decision
The termination of the RECs underscores the Tinubu administration’s commitment to accountability and the fight against corruption. It also reinforces the Senate’s role in upholding constitutional provisions and ensuring the integrity of public offices.
