Sokoto’s opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the state government are trading accusations over President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Mustapha Aliyu as an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner for the North-West.
The ADC raises concerns about the nominee’s political neutrality, alleging a family relationship with Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu. In statements, the party questions whether the appointment could be influenced by personal ties rather than independence.
Sokoto State Government rejects the allegations and says the nomination is merit-based. The government argues that the appointment is not driven by family connections and emphasizes that Professor Aliyu’s credentials should be the focus. Multiple outlets report that the dispute centres on whether the nominee’s background affects his perceived impartiality within INEC, reflecting broader political tensions around electoral oversight.
All reports agree that the disagreement follows Tinubu’s INEC nomination and that ADC’s objections are specifically tied to purported links to the governor, while the government maintains the process was objective.
