By Emmanuel Thomas l Sunday, Oct. 18, 2036
SOKOTO — As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Sokoto State Chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has kicked against the nomination of Professor Mustafa Ahmad Aliyu as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner representing the North-West geopolitical zone.
In a press statement issued on Saturday in Sokoto, signed by the State Secretary of the party, Bello Ibn Labaran Gwadabawa, the opposition group called on the Senate to immediately reject the nomination, citing serious concerns over partisan bias, conflict of interest, and the erosion of public trust in the electoral umpire.
According to the NDC, reports linking the nominee directly to the executive leadership of Sokoto State jeopardize the constitutional mandate of INEC as an impartial arbiter in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Detailing the grounds for its petition, the NDC alleged that Professor Mustafa Ahmad Aliyu is an elder brother to the incumbent Governor of Sokoto State and a known member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party argued that confirmation of such an individual to a top-tier national electoral role poses a direct threat to the independence of the commission.
”The nominee is reportedly the elder brother of the incumbent Sokoto State Governor and an APC member, raising serious concerns about the perceived neutrality and independence of the electoral commission,” Gwadabawa stated.
The opposition party emphasized that INEC occupies a sensitive, critical space within the nation’s governance structure, demanding that its officials be held to the highest standards of non-partisanship and moral rectitude.
”INEC is a critical democratic institution that must remain impartial and free from political influence,” the statement added. “Appointments to such sensitive positions should prioritize integrity, competence, and public confidence above political patronage.”
Call for Senate Intervention Ahead of 2027
Directing its plea to the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, the party urged lawmakers to act as a safeguard for democratic norms during the confirmation screening process.
The NDC maintained that allowing individuals with close partisan affiliations into the leadership structure of INEC could trigger a crisis of credibility during upcoming polls.
”We therefore call on the Senate to REJECT Professor Mustafa Ahmad Aliyu’s nomination in the interest of democratic integrity, electoral neutrality, and public confidence in INEC,” the statement stressed.
Gwadabawa further highlighted the national significance of the upcoming general elections, noting that the credibility of future electoral outcomes heavily relies on choices made today regarding the electoral commission’s leadership.
”Nigeria deserves an independent electoral umpire whose impartiality is beyond reasonable doubt, especially as the nation approaches the 2027 general elections,” he concluded.
Growing Demands for Electoral Reform
The controversy surrounding the North-West INEC nominee comes amid heightened public interest and calls from civil society organizations for strict adherence to constitutional provisions governing appointments into the electoral body.
Section 156(1a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) stipulates that members of independent federal executive bodies, including INEC, must not belong to any political party.
As the Senate prepares to consider executive nominations, political observers and civil society stakeholders will be closely watching how the National Assembly handles the petition from the Sokoto NDC regarding electoral neutrality and public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections.
