Reps Probe Panel Moves to Blacklist NILDS DG Sulaiman Over Alleged Contempt of Parliament …Says Allegations Stand After Three Failed Appearances By Saheed Badmus

Reps Probe Panel Moves to Blacklist NILDS DG Sulaiman Over Alleged Contempt of Parliament

…Says Allegations Stand After Three Failed Appearances By Saheed Badmus

The House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation has threatened to recommend punitive measures against the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, over his alleged participation in the 2026 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Kwara State without resigning his appointment.

The committee also expressed displeasure over what it described as Sulaiman’s persistent refusal to honour invitations to appear before it, warning that his continued absence amounted to disrespect for Parliament and could attract appropriate sanctions.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Yusuf Shittu Galambi, stated 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 lamented that despite being invited on three separate occasions, the NILDS Director-General failed to appear before the committee to respond to the allegations levelled against him.

According to the chairman, the committee had afforded Sulaiman sufficient opportunity to present his side of the matter, while the petitioners had consistently appeared before the panel to substantiate their allegations.

“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, 4th of August, 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, in our resolution today, following his refusal to appear before the committee, the committee has resolved that the allegations against him stand. We are going to write our recommendations to the House, and the allegations stand,” Galambi stated.

He warned that the committee could proceed to conclude its investigation and submit its findings and recommendations to the House without further waiting for the NILDS Director-General.

Galambi further maintained that a public office holder seeking elective political office must comply with the relevant laws and administrative requirements governing political participation.

“You can’t eat your cake and have it. You can’t contest and refuse to resign as required by law. As far as the committee is concerned, pending the approval of the House, the allegations stand,” he said.

Asked whether the committee would still grant Sulaiman an opportunity to defend himself should he decide to appear before the report is concluded, Galambi said the door remained open.

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

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the committee chairman explained that the investigation followed a petition considered by the House on June 4, 2026, against the NILDS Director-General.

According to him, the petition contained allegations bordering on the “use of government facilities, vehicles and personnel for partisan activities” as well as the alleged “failure of public office holders to resign or take leave as required before engaging in political campaigns.”

He said the investigation was designed to ascertain the level of compliance with constitutional and administrative requirements by public office holders seeking elective positions.

Galambi said the committee was also mandated “to examine the measures put in place by MDAs and the Head of Service to preserve political neutrality in public institutions and to recommend legislative, administrative and prosecutorial actions to deter future violations and restore institutional integrity.”

The chairman stressed that the National Assembly was not opposed to the political aspirations of public officers, but insisted that such aspirations must be pursued within the confines of the law.

“Let me state this clearly. The National Assembly does not begrudge any public officer their constitutional right to aspire. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, 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 declared.

He further cited provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, the Public Service Rules and the Electoral Act as part of the legal and administrative framework governing the political activities of public office holders.

According to him, “The Code of Conduct for Public Officers, 5th Schedule, Section 7(1), prohibits public officers from placing themselves in a position of conflict between personal interest and public duty.

“The Public Service Rules, specifically Rule 030422, and the Electoral Act 2026, Section 88(1), provide that a political appointee at any level shall not be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention, congress and primaries of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.

“Section 84(12) sets clear administrative and legal timelines for resignation or disengagement of public officers aspiring to elective offices.”

The committee maintained that the relevant provisions were intended to protect the neutrality and integrity of public institutions and prevent the deployment of state resources for partisan political activities.

It will be recalled that the House had deliberated on a petition accusing Prof. Sulaiman of participating in the APC governorship primaries in Kwara State while still serving as Director-General of NILDS.

The petition was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation for investigation and report.

Since the commencement of the investigation, the petitioners have appeared before the committee to present their case, while Prof. Sulaiman has yet to personally honour the committee’s invitations.

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