The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has come under legislative spotlight as the House of Representatives mandated its committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation to investigate allegations of active participation in partisan politics while in office.
In a motion of Urgent Public Importance sponsored by a lawmaker from Katsina State, Salisu Yusuf, and 12 others, the House was informed that contrary to extant laws, Prof. Sulaiman allegedly participated in the All Progressives Congress governorship primary process in Kwara State while still occupying his position as Director-General of NILDS.
Leading the debate on the motion during plenary Hon. Yusuf told the House that “Evidence already in the public domain showed that the NILDS boss purchased nomination forms, underwent screening and contested in the primary election, where he reportedly secured 1,722 votes.”
The lawmaker said the development had “generated widespread concern, particularly given the strategic role of NILDS as a non-partisan institution established to provide research, policy support and capacity development for the National Assembly and other democratic institutions.”
He further informed the House that a petition submitted by the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners accused the NILDS Director-General of abuse of office and failure to comply with extant laws governing public officers.
Yusuf argued that the allegations, “if proven, would amount to a violation of provisions regulating the conduct of public servants seeking elective political office.”
According to the motion, Sulaiman did not resign from office before joining the political contest, despite provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and a presidential directive requiring political appointees and public officials seeking elective positions to resign by March 31, 2026.
Lawmakers who spoke on the motion warned that failure to address the issue could “weaken discipline within the public service and erode public confidence in institutions expected to operate above partisan interests.”
According to the lawmakers, allowing senior public officials to openly participate in party primaries while retaining their positions would set a “dangerous precedent” for agencies and institutions under the National Assembly and across government.
Following the debate, the House adopted the motion and mandated its Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation to investigate the allegations and report back within one week.