The suspension comes after a hotly contested National Assembly election in the state that was marred by widespread irregularities. INEC declared the parliamentary election inconclusive and announced that supplementary elections would be held in the three senatorial districts. The election results were challenged by various political parties who accused INEC of gross misconduct and malpractice.
The Sokoto REC was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2018, and his suspension is likely to have far-reaching implications for the commission's credibility in the state. Several political parties have raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Sokoto and called for a thorough investigation into the election results.
Reacting to Ali's suspension, some political observers have criticized INEC for taking too long to take action on the alleged irregularities that occurred during the elections. They have called for a review of the commission's electoral guidelines and for stricter measures to be put in place to ensure free and fair elections in the future.
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed Ali's suspension and called for his immediate replacement with a competent and unbiased electoral officer. The party has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to rig the elections in its favour by using its influence to manipulate the electoral process.
The APC, on its part, has denied any wrongdoing and has accused the PDP of trying to cause unrest in the state by making unfounded allegations. The party has also accused INEC of bias and incompetence and has called for the immediate suspension of other electoral officers who were involved in the election.
INEC, in response, has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free and fair elections and has promised to investigate all allegations of misconduct. The commission has also urged political parties and their supporters to exercise restraint and allow the electoral process to take its course.
The Sokoto REC's suspension is the latest in a series of controversies that have plagued Nigeria's electoral process in recent years. In 2019, INEC was widely criticized for its handling of the presidential election, which was marred by alleged vote rigging and irregularities.
The commission has since taken steps to address some of these concerns, including the introduction of biometric voter verification and the deployment of electronic voting machines in some states. However, many challenges still remain, including the need to improve voter education, address electoral violence and intimidation, and ensure that the commission operates independently of political interference.