•Niger State governor, Mohammed Bago
Protests, yesterday, trailed the nomination of a new chairman and commissioners for the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission.
Following the announcement, the Peoples Democratic Party kicked, saying that the nominees remained card-carrying members of the ruling party, reports The PUNCH.
Governor Mohammed Bago announced the nomination in a bulletin released by his Special Adviser on Digital Media and Strategy, Abdullbarqy Ebbo.
The governor said all appointments were subject to confirmation by the state House of Assembly, adding that if confirmed, the commission would be responsible for the 2027 local government election in the state.
However, the new appointees were gathered to be former executive members of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress.
“Reference to the 23rd December 2024 executive correspondence to the Niger State House of Assembly on the composition of Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, the farmer Governor, Hon Umaru Mohammed Bago, has approved the appointment of the following to fill in the membership of the commission.
“Engr Mohammed Jibrin Imam, Chairman; Barr M.A Liman, Permanent Commissioner 1, Nasiru Ubandiya, Permanent Commissioner 2, Yahaya Idris Abara, Permanent Commissioner 3, Capt Mohammed Baro, Permanent Commissioner 4; Kabiru Tanko Zama, Permanent Commissioner 5, Barr Amina Guar, Permanent Commissioner 6, and Barr Ahmed Borgu, Permanent Commissioner 7.”
The PDP, reacting through the state Vice Chairman and Zonal Chairman, Niger North Zone ‘C, Yahaya Ability, said the party rejected the nomination of APC former officials into the NSIEC board.
Ability, speaking at a media briefing, questioned how Bago appointed a former APC state chairman and card-carrying member as NSIEC chairman.
“The nominated chairman of the commission was a former APC state chairman. He was removed and detained at the Niger State police command for some days for misappropriation of funds.
“This appointment cannot be accepted, because if a man that was sent packing by his party heads this commission, then other parties will be marginalised and oppressed in the forthcoming LG election,” Ability said.
The PDP stalwart reminded the governor of his predecessors’ actions in a similar appointment.
“Your decision to appoint the former APC chairman as the Niger State SIEC boss is a clear violation of fairness and democratic principles.
“Under Governor A.A. Kure, the NSIEC chairman was Alhaji Maman Auna, a civil servant.
“During the time of Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, it was Alhaji Danlami Dallatu, a neutral person.
“During the time of your party man, the former governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, it was Alhaji Baba Aminu, a civil servant, who headed the commission, ensuring free and fair elections.
“Why is your own different, imposing your will on the people without carrying everyone along? We disagree with this,” he said.
Ability called on the governor to reverse the appointment immediately to restore public confidence and ensure a level playing field for all.
An aggrieved member of the PDP, Salihu Abubakar, said if confirmed by the assembly, the state had concluded arrangements to rig the 2027 LG election.
“This is unacceptable. How can the governor appoint former executive members of the APC as state INEC chairman and commissioners?
“This is illegal and questionable. The state assembly should reject this so that we don’t make ourselves a laughing stock to the entire nation ahead of the 2027 elections,” Abubakar said.
Another opposition member, Sule Dauda, questioned the composition, declaring it a dictatorship in the making.
He said, “This is exactly why we must not encourage state police, it will be abused by state governors. How do they want the opposition to have any confidence in the electoral system?”
