The House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation (NILDS) has suspended investigations into allegations that the Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, is participating in current political activities towards the 2027 governorship elections without resigning.

Chairman of the Committee, Yusuf Galambi, said at an investigative hearing at the National Assembly that the committee will not proceed with the investigations in the absence of evidence that Prof Suleiman participated in the governorship election primaries in Kwara State without resigning his position.

The Committee asked those who petitioned the former Minister to provide evidence, adding that, at the moment, the Committee does not have sufficient documentary evidence from the petitioners.

The investigation ordered by the House followed a motion earlier adopted by the House on the need to uphold constitutional and administrative rules guiding the conduct of public officers and their participation in electoral processes.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation had directed government appointees willing to contest elections to resign their appointments before embarking on such an exercise, in line with constitutional provisions stipulating a one-month period for such resignations.

However, following allegations that Prof. Suleiman actively participated in the All Progressives Congress governorship primaries in Kwara State, the House Committee was mandated to investigate the claims and report back to the House.

However, Galambi advised the petitioners to provide documentary evidence, including records from the political party, nomination forms, and expression-of-interest forms allegedly linked to the Director-General.

“The committee is unable to proceed in the absence of credible and verifiable evidence to substantiate the allegations before us,” he said, adding that the committee would consider issuing another invitation to the NILDS boss after receiving the required evidence.

Galambi, however, maintained that the committee would proceed with the investigation regardless of the Director-General’s appearance, noting that a formal invitation had been duly extended to him and that his absence would not impede the panel’s work.

Earlier, a member of the committee, Hon. Harrison Anozie, expressed concern about the Director-General’s failure to honour the committee’s invitation.

“In the matter referred to this committee, we have extended invitations to all parties, especially the DG, who has been alleged to have participated in a political process without resigning his appointment as required by the Constitution and the directive of Mr President,” Anozie said.

He added that the Director-General was given adequate notice and sufficient time to appear before the committee.

He ought to be here to state his own side of the story. A proper notice was served on him, and ample time was given for him to appear before this committee,” he said.

Anozie, however, maintained that the committee’s work should not be frustrated by the absence of any party.

Also speaking, Hon. Chinedu Obika asked the petitioners whether they had video evidence of the Director-General’s alleged participation in the primary election.

Responding on behalf of the petitioners, Williams Amuga, a member of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), said their claims were based on reports and publications circulated on social media platforms.

The committee subsequently suspended the hearing and directed the petitioners to submit additional evidence before further proceedings. (The Nation)