A group operating under the aegis of Concerned Niger Youths warned on Thursday that it would resist the Peoples Democratic Party’s attempt to install a candidate with a questionable public standing as its governorship flag bearer in the upcoming Saturday election. The group called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify the politician because he is currently on trial for alleged money‑laundering offenses. It argued that, having been indicted by a court on charges of money laundering and related misconduct, the PDP candidate, Liman Isah Kantigi, should not be allowed to govern the state he is accused of betraying.
The development comes just 24 hours before the rescheduled governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state. On February 15, reports surfaced that Kantigi had issued a death threat to prospective voters who intended to collect his money without voting for him. In a viral 25‑second video, the Niger PDP candidate—dressed in a white long dress and matching cap—addressed his supporters in English and Hausa, warning that anyone who betrayed him at the polls would suffer nightmares, cold, and eventual death. He portrayed himself as a generous man who looked out for others while threatening severe consequences for those who would accept his money without reciprocating with votes.
In a statement issued from Abuja, Concerned Niger Youths coordinator Ndagi Lemu questioned why the PDP would field such a person for the state’s highest office despite being fully aware of the seriousness of his indictment. The group highlighted the Federal High Court ruling that charged the governorship candidate with money‑laundering offenses and noted that Kantigi’s attempt to overturn the lower‑court judgment was dismissed by the appellate court in February 2022.
“We therefore call on INEC to disqualify him from the governorship poll on Saturday based on his indictment by a court of competent jurisdiction,” Lemu said. “We also urge the security agencies to ensure that Kantigi is punished for his alleged crimes against the people he now aspires to rule over. We call on all Nigerlites to rise up against looters of our commonwealth by preventing such individuals from occupying public offices. We cannot have an indicted character as governor of our state.”
Comments are closed for this story.