Sokoto defends Tinubu’s INEC nominee, insists appointment on merit, not family ties

The Sokoto State Government has dismissed concerns raised by the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Manir Dan’iya, over President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Mustapha Aliyu as an Independent National Electoral Commission National Commissioner, insisting that the appointment was based on merit.

The government challenged Dan’iya to provide evidence of alleged political affiliations that could undermine the nominee’s impartiality, arguing that his family relationship with Governor Ahmed Aliyu was not sufficient grounds for disqualification.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Political Matters, Faruku Labbo, stated this in a statement on Sunday while reacting to Dan’iya’s call on Tinubu to reconsider the nomination and the Senate to subject the nominee to rigorous scrutiny before confirmation.

Dan’iya had raised concerns over the reported maternal relationship between Professor Aliyu and Governor Ahmed Aliyu, as well as questions about the nominee’s alleged association with the ruling All Progressives Congress.

However, Labbo maintained that the professor was qualified for the national assignment and did not hold any position in the APC at any level.

“Although Professor Mustapha Aliyu remains a brother to Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, he is not holding any position in the All Progressives Congress at any level,” he said.

He challenged the ADC candidate to prove otherwise, stressing that family ties alone did not constitute constitutional disqualification.

Labbo described Aliyu as a distinguished academic and a bona fide Nigerian citizen qualified to serve in the national position.

He said the nomination was made in the national interest to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of the tenures of serving electoral commissioners, rather than to advance the political interests of any individual or party.

The Presidency announced Aliyu’s nomination on October 16, 2026, alongside those of three other national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners.

Reacting to the controversy, Labbo accused Dan’iya of attempting to politicise what he described as a merit-based appointment and create unnecessary controversy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He urged the public and the Senate to assess the nominee based on his professional competence, constitutional eligibility and ability to perform his duties impartially.

The government’s response followed Dan’iya’s objection to the nomination, in which the ADC candidate called on Tinubu to reconsider his decision and urged the Senate not to compromise thorough scrutiny for political expediency.

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In a statement issued on Saturday by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya cited Section 156(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides that a person appointed as an INEC member must not belong to a political party.

He argued that the reported family relationship between the nominee and the Sokoto governor, whose party has a direct interest in the forthcoming electoral contests, made transparency particularly important.

“The independence of INEC is too important to be treated as a routine political appointment. Nigerians must have confidence that those entrusted with managing our elections will act without fear, favour or political pressure,” Dan’iya said.

He, however, acknowledged that family relationships alone did not establish wrongdoing, insisting that the Senate should verify the nominee’s political affiliations and eligibility before confirmation.

“If credible evidence establishes that the nominee is constitutionally disqualified, the Senate should refuse confirmation, and the President should nominate a qualified alternative,” he said.

The ADC candidate also urged senators representing Sokoto State and the North-West to demand clear answers regarding the nominee’s suitability and independence.

Apart from Aliyu’s nomination to represent the North-West, Tinubu nominated Bashir Umar to represent the North-Central, replacing Professor Muhammad Adamu, while reappointing Dr Bala Bila for the North-East.

The President also nominated Oluwatoyin Babalola, the serving Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi as the South-West National Commissioner following the expiration of his tenure.

Additionally, Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi were nominated as resident electoral commissioners for Ekiti and Jigawa states, respectively.

The nominations are subject to the relevant constitutional processes, including Senate confirmation where required.

INEC is responsible for organising and conducting elections in Nigeria, making the independence and impartiality of its officials central to public confidence in the electoral process.

The disagreement between the Sokoto State Government and the ADC candidate comes as political parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While Dan’iya has called for closer scrutiny of Professor Aliyu’s nomination, the state government insists that the appointment should be assessed on merit and constitutional eligibility rather than family relationships.