President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday sought the approval of the Senate to sack the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission for Abia, Adamawa, and Sokoto States.

The request of President Tinubu was contained in a letter he addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The RECs suspended, who Tinubu is seeking to sack, are Ike Uzochukwu (Abia), Hudu Yunusa-Ari (Adamawa), and Nura Ali (Sokoto).

They were accused of misconduct during the 2023 general election.

The President’s letter was read on the floor of the Senate by Akpabio at the plenary session on Wednesday.

In the letter, Tinubu explained that the RECs were suspended by INEC before he assumed office more than one year ago.

The letter reads in part: “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. 

“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.”

INEC suspended the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Sokoto State, Dr Nura Ali, in March 2023.

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

While the reason for the suspension was not explicitly stated, it was gathered that the decision may be connected to the allegations of irregularities in the just-concluded election in the state.

Hudu Yunusa Ari, the seconded Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa was suspended following the controversy on the 2023 governorship election in the State.

Ari had usurped the power of the Returning Officer in the election and announced Senator Aishatu Bunami as the winner of the election while collation hadn't bee concluded.

Uzochukwu was suspended following the controversy of the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly Election in the State.

Abia was one of the States where elections did not commence as scheduled due to logistics problem.