The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, is facing calls for his suspension following his participation in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Kwara State and an ongoing suit before the National Industrial Court in Abuja.
In a statement made available to journalists, the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) urged the Governing Council of NILDS to place the Director-General on immediate suspension pending the determination of a lawsuit challenging his continued stay in office.
According to the statement, Prof. Sulaiman “declared his intention and physically completed an expression of interest form as a candidate for the position of Governor of Kwara State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
The group further cited media reports indicating that the NILDS DG participated in the APC governorship primary election held on May 22, 2026.
It quoted a report by THISDAY newspaper which stated that “Prof. Abubakar Suleiman scored 1,722 votes” in the contest.
ALDRAP argued that Sections 66(1)(f), 107(1)(f), 137(1)(g) and 182(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution require public officers seeking elective office to resign, withdraw or retire from their employment at least 30 days before an election.
“So Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman ought to have tendered his letter of resignation to the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Institute-NILDS at least by 1st April 2026 before he even purchased the expression of interest form,” the statement said.
The association disclosed that it filed Suit No. NICN/ABJ/103/2026 at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, on March 27, 2026, naming Prof. Sulaiman, the Chairman of the NILDS Governing Council and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who serves as Alternate Chairman of the Council, as defendants.
According to the statement, the suit seeks “an Order of the Honourable Court to compel both the Chairman and Alternate Chairman respectively to move the Governing Council to declare that Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman is no longer the Director-General of the Institute-NILDS because of his involvement/participation in the Kwara State APC Governorship primaries election.”
The group also alleged that the NILDS DG failed to notify the Governing Council of the pending litigation and further accused him of engaging legal representation for the institute without the approval of the council.
“As evidence of further violation of Sections 3(1) and (2) of the National Institute for Legislative Studies Act, 2011, Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman … unilaterally engaged the services of both the Legal Adviser of the Institute and an external lawyer to represent the Institute-NILDS at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria,” the statement alleged.
ALDRAP maintained that, given the ongoing court proceedings, it would be appropriate for the NILDS Governing Council to place the Director-General on suspension.
“Since the matter is now sub-judice (subject-matter of ongoing litigation), it is advisable for both the Chairman and Alternate Chairman to place Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman on INTERDICTION (suspension from office) until after the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division has delivered a final judgment on the matter,” the statement added.
The association further recommended the appointment of an Acting Director-General to oversee the day-to-day administration of the institute pending the outcome of the case.
Efforts to obtain Prof. Sulaiman’s response to the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
