The Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has called for the immediate suspension of the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, pending the resolution of a case before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja.
In a statement issued on June 3, 2026, ALDRAP urged the institute's Governing Council to place Prof. Sulaiman on interdiction and appoint an acting Director-General to manage the institution until the court delivers its judgment. The demand stems from allegations that Prof. Sulaiman participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary process in Kwara State while serving as NILDS Director-General.
According to ALDRAP, Prof. Sulaiman publicly declared his intention to run for governor and completed an expression of interest form under the APC platform without resigning from his position as head of the institute. The association claims this violates constitutional provisions requiring public officers seeking elective office to resign, withdraw, or retire within a stipulated period before an election. Specifically, ALDRAP cited Sections 66(1)(f), 107(1)(f), 137(1)(g), and 182(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.
Legal Action Initiated
ALDRAP disclosed that it filed a suit marked NICN/ABJ/103/2026 before the National Industrial Court on March 27, 2026, challenging Prof. Sulaiman's continued tenure as Director-General following his involvement in the APC primary. The suit names 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.
The claimants seek orders compelling the Governing Council to declare Prof. Sulaiman unfit to remain Director-General and appoint an acting head for NILDS. ALDRAP also alleged that Prof. Sulaiman failed to inform the Governing Council about the pending litigation, despite his role as Secretary of the council under the National Institute for Legislative Studies Act, 2011.
Additional Allegations
The association further claimed that Prof. Sulaiman did not take steps to protect or indemnify Governing Council members named as defendants due to actions taken in his official capacity. Additionally, ALDRAP alleged that he engaged the institute's Legal Adviser and an external Senior Advocate of Nigeria to represent NILDS in court without prior council approval. These actions, according to ALDRAP, constitute serious breaches of the National Institute for Legislative Studies Act and warrant disciplinary measures.
ALDRAP argued that suspending Prof. Sulaiman pending the court's final determination would protect the institute's integrity and prevent potential conflicts of interest. It also recommended appointing an acting Director-General to ensure administrative continuity and avoid a leadership vacuum.
However, the allegations and legal claims remain subject to judicial determination. No court has yet made any findings on the merits of the case against Prof. Sulaiman.
