The Sokoto State Government has defended Professor Mustapha Aliyu’s nomination as an INEC national commissioner after an opposition candidate questioned his family ties to Governor Ahmed Aliyu and alleged political affiliations.
The government says the nomination was based on merit. Manir Dan’iya, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in the state, has asked President Bola Tinubu to reconsider it and urged the Senate to examine the nominee’s eligibility before confirmation.
In a statement on Sunday, the governor’s special adviser on political matters, Faruku Labbo, acknowledged the family relationship but said the professor held no position in the All Progressives Congress at any level. He challenged Dan’iya to provide evidence of political affiliations that could compromise the nominee’s impartiality.
Labbo argued that family ties alone did not disqualify Aliyu. He urged senators to assess the nominee’s professional qualifications, constitutional eligibility and ability to serve impartially.
Dan’iya’s objection was issued on Saturday through his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi. He cited the constitutional requirement that an INEC member must not belong to a political party and called for scrutiny of the nominee’s alleged APC links.
The ADC candidate also acknowledged that a family relationship did not itself establish wrongdoing. He said the Senate should reject the nomination if credible evidence showed that the nominee was constitutionally disqualified.
Tinubu announced the electoral commission nominations on October 16. NaijaTrend reported the names and proposed replacements here. The nominations remain subject to Senate scrutiny and confirmation.
Dan’iya urged senators representing Sokoto and the North-West to seek answers about the nominee’s suitability and independence before deciding on confirmation.
Sources: Punch, Daily Post
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