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The House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation has resolved to recommend punitive measures against the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, over his alleged refusal to honour the committee’s invitations to answer allegations that he participated in the 2026 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Kwara State while still serving as Director-General.
The committee said it would recommend that the House blacklist the NILDS boss over what it described as persistent defiance of parliamentary authority after he failed to appear before the panel on three separate occasions despite being formally invited.
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 expressed disappointment that despite being invited to appear before the committee on June 18, July 24 and August 4, 2026, Sulaiman failed to honour the invitations or personally appear to respond to the allegations against him.
According to him, the committee had given the NILDS Director-General ample opportunity to defend himself, while the petitioners had 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, 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 allowed 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 said.
He said the committee would not allow its investigation to be stalled by the Director-General’s continued absence and would proceed with its assignment in line with its constitutional oversight responsibility.
Galambi maintained that while every Nigerian has the constitutional right to seek elective office, public office holders must comply with the relevant legal and administrative requirements before participating in partisan politics.
“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.
The lawmaker, however, said the committee remained open to hearing Sulaiman’s defence if he chose to appear before its report was finalised.
“If he decides to come and defend himself before we write our report and recommendations, we will allow him,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, Galambi explained that the investigation followed a petition referred to the committee by the House on June 4, 2026.
According to him, the petition alleged that the NILDS Director-General participated in the APC governorship primaries in Kwara State while still in office, used government facilities, vehicles and personnel for partisan political activities, and failed to resign or proceed on leave before engaging in political campaigns as required by law.
He said the committee was mandated to determine whether constitutional and administrative provisions governing the political neutrality of public institutions had been breached and to recommend legislative, administrative or prosecutorial actions where necessary.
“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 stated.
He also cited the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, the Public Service Rules and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 as part of the legal framework regulating the political activities of public office holders, saying the provisions were intended to preserve the neutrality and integrity of public institutions.
Efforts to obtain comments from Prof. Sulaiman or the management of NILDS were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The committee said it would forward its findings and recommendations to the House for consideration, while maintaining that Prof. Sulaiman could still appear before the panel before the report is finalised.
