RismadarVoice Reporters
October 18, 2026
The Sokoto State Government has defended President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Mustapha Aliyu as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, insisting that the decision was based on merit rather than his family relationship with Governor Ahmed Aliyu.
The government’s position followed objections raised by the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Manir Dan’iya, who called on Tinubu to reconsider the nomination and urged the Senate to thoroughly scrutinise the nominee before confirmation.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the governor’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Faruku Labbo, challenged Dan’iya to provide evidence that Professor Aliyu’s political affiliations could compromise his independence.
Labbo acknowledged that the nominee was related to Governor Ahmed Aliyu but argued that the relationship alone did not constitute grounds for disqualification.
“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 described the nominee as a distinguished academic and a Nigerian citizen qualified to serve in the national electoral body.
According to Labbo, the nomination was intended to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of the tenures of serving electoral commissioners and was made in the national interest, rather than to promote the interests of any individual or political party.
He accused Dan’iya of politicising what he described as a merit-based appointment and creating unnecessary controversy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Labbo urged Nigerians and the Senate to assess the nominee based on his professional qualifications, constitutional eligibility and ability to discharge his responsibilities impartially.
Dan’iya had earlier expressed concern about the reported maternal relationship between Professor Aliyu and the Sokoto governor, arguing that the connection warranted greater transparency in the nomination process.
In a statement issued on Saturday through his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, the ADC candidate 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 relationship between the nominee and the governor, whose party has a stake in upcoming electoral contests, made it necessary for the Senate to establish the professor’s political affiliations and eligibility before approving the appointment.
“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.
Although he acknowledged that family ties alone did not establish wrongdoing, Dan’iya insisted that the Senate must conduct a thorough assessment of the nominee.
He said that if credible evidence showed that Professor Aliyu was constitutionally disqualified, the Senate should reject the nomination and the President should propose another candidate.
The ADC candidate also called on senators representing Sokoto State and the North-West to seek clear answers regarding the nominee’s suitability and independence.
The Presidency announced Professor Aliyu’s nomination on October 16, 2026, alongside the nominations of three other national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners.
Tinubu also nominated Bashir Umar to represent the North-Central, replacing Professor Muhammad Adamu, while reappointing Dr Bala Bila for the North-East.
For the South-West, the President nominated Oluwatoyin Babalola, the serving Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi 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 remain subject to the applicable constitutional procedures, including Senate confirmation where required.
