Prosper Okoye
A civil society group has filed a lawsuit challenging the continued tenure of Jimoh Ibrahim in the Senate after his appointment as Nigeria’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations.
The Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) lodged the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, naming President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ibrahim, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as defendants.
In the filing, ALDRAP argues that Ibrahim has remained a sitting senator despite his confirmation as ambassador in December 2025, raising constitutional questions over the separation of powers in Nigeria’s presidential system.
The group is asking the court to determine whether Ibrahim’s failure to resign from the Senate violates constitutional provisions that separate the legislative, executive and judicial arms of government. It also questions whether the Senate president should have declared the seat vacant following the ambassadorial confirmation.
The suit further challenges the continued recognition of Ibrahim as ambassador without his resignation from the Senate, and whether the electoral commission is required to conduct a bye-election to fill what the group describes as a vacant seat.
ALDRAP is seeking court declarations that Ibrahim’s senatorial seat became vacant upon his confirmation as ambassador and that his continued dual role is unconstitutional.
It also wants an order compelling the Senate president to declare the seat vacant and directing the electoral body to organise a bye-election.
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The group argues in court documents that Nigeria’s system of government does not permit a serving lawmaker to simultaneously hold an executive appointment such as ambassador, and says the alleged inaction by authorities has denied constituents representation.
No date has been set for the hearing.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
