The Senate has approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to formally dismiss the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of Sokoto, Abia, and Adamawa states.

The affected officials— Ike Uzochukwu (Abia), Hudu Yunusa-Ari (Adamawa), and Nura Ali (Sokoto) were initially suspended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2023 over allegations of electoral misconduct and irregularities during the general elections.

During Wednesday’s plenary, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) moved the motion to approve their removal, stating that Tinubu’s request aligns with Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Speaking in support of the motion, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) said the dismissal would serve as a warning to public officials, reinforcing the government’s stance on accountability.

“This administration has committed to fighting corruption, and this action will deter others in public office from engaging in misconduct,” Moro stated.

Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) also emphasized that with 91 senators present, the chamber had surpassed the two-thirds majority required to approve the motion.

“The essence of this motion is to uphold Section 157(1) of the constitution and safeguard the integrity of public institutions,” Monguno said.

The motion was adopted following a voice vote led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In reaction to the development, Yiaga Africa, a civic organization focused on electoral reforms, urged the Senate to improve its confirmation process for INEC appointments to ensure thorough screening of nominees.

Yiaga Africa’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, stressed the need for future INEC appointments to prioritize competence, impartiality, and integrity.

“These cases highlight the importance of selecting qualified and non-partisan individuals for INEC roles. We urge the President to ensure that future appointments strictly adhere to constitutional standards to maintain INEC’s credibility and effectiveness,” Itodo stated.

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has relocated its meetings from the party’s national secretariat in Abuja to a hotel, citing security concerns.

Senator Adolphus Wabara, the BoT Chairman, presided over an emergency meeting at a well-known Abuja hotel, expressing dismay over last week’s incident where thugs allegedly disrupted a party gathering.

During the meeting, the BoT endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary, calling on the National Working Committee (NWC) to officially recognize and swear him in.

The endorsement follows a resolution by PDP governors, who met in Asaba, Delta State, last week to back Ude-Okoye for the role.

However, Senator Sam Anyanwu dismissed the governors’ decision, arguing that their forum is not an official organ of the PDP but merely a pressure group.

In a petition dated February 1, 2025, addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Anyanwu warned that any attempt to enforce the Enugu Court of Appeal judgment in his absence could lead to unrest.

The BoT, in a communiqué released after the meeting, stated that there was no stay of execution against the appellate court’s ruling that removed Anyanwu as National Secretary.

It cited Section 32(5)(a) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), which empowers the BoT to uphold the party’s moral standards and call erring members to order.

The board also adopted the findings of its committee, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kabiru Turaki, affirming Ude-Okoye’s position as the legitimate National Secretary of the PDP.

Meanwhile, the Senate plenary session took a dramatic turn as lawmakers clashed over the defection of Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North) from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

PDP senators argued that Nwoko’s move was unconstitutional, as the party was not facing an internal crisis that would justify his defection.

The debate intensified when Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro raised a constitutional point of order, questioning the validity of Nwoko’s switch.

In response, Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele defended Nwoko, stating that the Nigerian Constitution permits defections when there is a division within a party.

Barau pointed to the well-documented rift between the Nyesom Wike and Bala Mohammed factions as evidence of such a division.

Moro, however, countered that the PDP remains a law-abiding institution, adhering to the Court of Appeal’s ruling on its leadership.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio interjected, asking, “What does the Supreme Court say?” to which Moro reiterated that the appellate court had upheld Anyanwu’s position as National Secretary.

Following his defection, Nwoko was formally welcomed at the APC national secretariat in Abuja by the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, alongside Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo and other chieftains.

Addressing reporters, Nwoko dismissed speculations that Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori might follow suit and defect to the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

He warned that APC leaders in Delta would not accept the governor, citing his alleged lack of leadership capacity and failure to be accountable to the people despite the state receiving over ₦52 billion monthly in oil derivation and statutory allocations.

Nwoko also ruled out contesting the Delta governorship election in 2027 on the APC platform, focusing instead on strengthening the party’s presence in the state.

Prof. Yusuf, 

The Katsina State Elders Forum has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), who was recently arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Professor Yusuf, an expert in hematology and bone marrow transplantation, was appointed to lead the NHIS after returning from the United States.

However, he has been outspoken in his criticism of the government in various interviews and public statements.

Last week, the EFCC raided his residence in Abuja, arresting him in front of his family members.

He was later arraigned on allegations of fraud and remanded in custody.

The Katsina Elders Forum, however, insists that Yusuf’s detention is politically motivated, arguing that he is being targeted for exercising his right to free speech.

The forum’s secretary, Aliyu Sani Muhammad, questioned whether President Bola Tinubu’s administration was suppressing democratic freedoms.

Muhammad also pointed out what he described as selective justice, stating that while Yusuf is accused of awarding a minor contract to a relative, President Tinubu’s son, Seyi, was given a significant contract for the Lagos-Calabar Highway without due process.

“For this government, some individuals are against Usman simply because of his critical interviews. He is a globally recognized expert, and even the Americans value his expertise. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, we are treating him unfairly,” Muhammad said.

Senator Mamman Abubakar Danmusa, the acting chairman of the forum, warned that Yusuf’s continued detention could have serious consequences, urging President Tinubu to ensure justice prevails.