Few days to the Govenrnorship elections in the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has suspended the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Sokoto State, Dr Nura Ali, with immediate effect.

The suspension was announced in a letter signed by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Orlaran-Anthony, and addressed to both the Resident Electoral Commissioner and the Administrative Secretary in the state.

According to the letter, Dr Nura Ali has been directed to stay away from the Commission’s office in Sokoto State until further notice.

While the reason for the suspension was not explicitly stated in the letter, HorizonTimes gathered that Dr Ali was suspended for compromising the National Assembly elections of February 25.

The decision, it was gathered, may not be unconnected with allegations of irregularities and compromise in the just-concluded election in the state.

HorizonTimes check on INEC website and social media handles revealed that the suspended REC did not return any National Assembly candidate in the just concluded election.

Elections into three Senate seats and the 11 seats of Federal House of Representatives were all inconclusive and require supplementary election before winners emerge.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, defeated Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in an election which was conducted in the same constituencies and Senatorial districts.

State Collation Officer and Vice-chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kabiru Bala, presented the results in Sokoto.

He said Atiku polled 288,679 votes to defeat Tinubu who polled 285,444 votes.

The letter with no INEC/SCE/442/V.II read, “This is to inform you of the commission’s decision for you (Dr Nura Ali), Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sokoto State, to stay away from the commission’s office in Sokoto state immediately until furthermore notice.

“The administrative secretary is directed to take full charge of INEC, Sokoto State office with immediate effects."

The Administrative Secretary Hajiya Aliyu Kangiwa, in a separate letter, has been instructed to take full charge of INEC in Sokoto State with immediate effect.

The commission directs Hauwa to take full responsibility of all administrative and election pending when the commission directs otherwise.

The letter further directed her to liaise with the Supervisory National Commissioner, Professor Muhammad Sani Kaita for further clarifications when necessary.