The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the nomination of a new chairman and commissioners for the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), alleging that the nominees are loyalists of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Mohammed Bago announced the appointments in a bulletin released by his Special Adviser on Digital Media and Strategy, Abdullbarqy Ebbo.
The statement noted that the appointments are subject to confirmation by the Niger State House of Assembly and that the commission will oversee the 2027 local government elections if approved.
But speaking at a press briefing, PDP state Vice Chairman and Zonal Chairman for Niger North Zone ‘C, Yahaya Ability, criticized the appointments, questioning the fairness of appointing former APC executives to oversee elections in the state.
“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,” Ability alleged.
“This appointment cannot be accepted. If a man that was sent packing by his party is now to head the commission, other parties will be marginalized in the forthcoming local government elections,” he added.
Ability also noted that past governors appointed neutral individuals to lead NSIEC, contrasting Bago’s decision with previous administrations.
“Under Governor A.A. Kure, the NSIEC chairman was Alhaji Maman Auna, a civil servant. During Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu’s tenure, it was Alhaji Danlami Dallatu, a neutral person. Even under former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, the commission was led by Alhaji Baba Aminu, also a civil servant,” he said.
The PDP has called on the governor to reverse the appointments, warning that failure to do so could undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections.
The Niger State House of Assembly is expected to deliberate on the nominations in the coming days. The governor has yet to respond to the PDP’s demands.
