…for allegedly participating in APC primary without resigning

The House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation has moved to recommend sanctions against the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, over allegations that he participated in the 2026 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Kwara State without resigning from office.

The committee also faulted Sulaiman for repeatedly failing to honour its invitations to appear before it, describing his absence as disrespect for Parliament and warning that it would conclude its investigation and forward its recommendations to the House.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Yusuf Shittu Galambi, disclosed this during an investigative hearing on the “Need to Preserve the Political Neutrality of Public Institutions and Ensure Compliance with Constitutional, Administrative Requirements and All Other Relevant Rules Governing the Participation of Public Office Holders in Electoral Contests.”

Galambi said despite being invited on three occasions, the NILDS Director-General failed to appear before the panel to respond to the allegations contained in a petition before the committee.

According to him, the committee had given Sulaiman ample opportunity to defend himself, while the petitioners consistently appeared before the panel to present evidence in support of their claims.

“We invited the DG of NILDS to appear before this honourable committee on the 18th of June; he refused to come. We gave him a second chance on the 24th of July; he did not honour the invitation, and today, August 4, he did not show up. Meanwhile, the petitioners are always here, waiting to prove the allegations against him.

“Our committee believes that if allegations are levelled against someone and he is given an opportunity to defend himself, and he refuses, it means he has something to hide.

“So, following his refusal to appear before the committee, we have resolved that the allegations against him stand. We are going to write our recommendations to the House, and the allegations stand,” Galambi said.

He added that while the committee would proceed with its report, Sulaiman would still be allowed to defend himself if he appeared before the recommendations were finalised.

“If he decides to come and defend himself before we write our report and recommendations, we will allow him,” he said.

Earlier, the committee chairman explained that the investigation stemmed from a petition adopted by the House on June 4, 2026, alleging that the NILDS Director-General participated in the APC governorship primary in Kwara State while still occupying public office.

According to Galambi, the petition also accused Sulaiman of using government facilities, vehicles and personnel for partisan political activities and failing to resign or take leave before participating in political campaigns.

He said the committee was mandated to determine compliance with constitutional and administrative provisions governing political participation by public office holders and to recommend legislative, administrative or prosecutorial measures where necessary.

“The National Assembly does not begrudge any public officer their constitutional right to aspire. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees that right. But that right must be exercised within the law.

“You cannot serve two masters. You cannot be a regulator in the morning and a campaigner in the afternoon using state resources,” Galambi said.

He cited the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, the Public Service Rules and provisions of the Electoral Act as the legal framework guiding the political activities of public office holders, stressing that the rules were designed to safeguard the neutrality and integrity of public institutions.

The committee is expected to submit its report and recommendations to the House for consideration after concluding its investigation.