Governorship Election: Why INEC Barred Sokoto REC From Office

The Sokoto State Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Nura Ali has been asked by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to state away from the office.

Naija News had earlier reported that the electoral body gave the directive four days before the governorship and House of Assembly elections across the country.

The commission asked him to stay away and hand over to the administrative Secretary of the commission, Hauwa’u Kangiwa, to take full charge of its office in Sokoto with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, a source that spoke with Daily Trust on the development said, “You know a lot of hitches were recorded during the last elections; late arrival of materials at polling units and improper conduct of poorly trained ad-hoc staff.

“And you know Sokoto is a very difficult state when it comes to the conduct of elections. The state requires a highly experienced and capable hand to manage its elections. The controversy during the last election is the major reason the commissioner was asked to step down while a highly experienced team was deployed to manage Governorship and other elections in the state.”

A senior INEC official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Ali was left alone by all the commission staff due to his leadership style.

He said, “It was authoritatively learnt that the Sokoto REC was acting like a sole administrator and this led to the breakdown of the administrative structure of INEC in the state.

“For instance, there were no results of National Assembly elections in Sokoto State, as the commission staff in the state refused to work with him, due to his high-handedness.”

It was also learnt that the suspended Sokoto State REC did not show remorse or give a satisfactory explanation for the failure under his watch.

The official said, “There are other reasons that the commission does not have an option than to ask the administrative Secretary of the commission in the state, Hauwa Aliyu Kangiwa to take full charge with immediate effect so the coming governorship and state assembly elections would be successful.”