The Sokoto State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, has called on President Bola Tinubu to review the nomination of Professor Mustapha Aliu as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Dan’iya wants the nominee’s alleged links to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and reported family relationship with Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu investigated before his confirmation.
He said the issues should be examined to establish whether Aliu meets the constitutional requirements for appointment to the electoral body.
The ADC candidate also urged the Senate to conduct a thorough screening of the nominee, insisting that political affiliations and other relevant circumstances surrounding the appointment must be addressed openly.
The demand was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Dan’iya’s media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, following the announcement of Aliu’s nomination on October 16, 2026, to represent the North-West geopolitical zone.
Dan’iya expressed concern that the reported relationship between the nominee and the Sokoto governor, alongside allegations of political association with the APC, could raise questions about the independence of the electoral commission.
He, however, acknowledged that a family relationship with a serving governor does not, by itself, establish misconduct or automatically disqualify anyone from public office.
He maintained that the circumstances surrounding the nomination warranted further examination to determine whether the nominee could discharge his responsibilities without political influence.
“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,” he said.
The ADC governorship candidate argued that public confidence in INEC depends not only on how the commission conducts elections but also on the transparency of the process through which its officials are appointed.
He said the Senate should establish whether Aliu satisfies the constitutional conditions for membership of the electoral body before deciding on his confirmation.
According to him, the screening exercise should provide an opportunity to address questions about the nominee’s political affiliations and eligibility.
Dan’iya specifically cited Section 156(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, in support of his demand for scrutiny.
He argued that the constitutional provision requires INEC members to meet specified conditions, including the restriction on membership of a political party.
He called on senators representing Sokoto State and other parts of the North-West to seek clear answers during the screening.
He also urged other elected representatives from the region to ensure that the process is guided by constitutional provisions rather than political interests.
“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 opposition candidate maintained that no nominee should be shielded from scrutiny because of political connections or relationships with serving public officeholders.
He said the Senate’s responsibility was to establish whether the nominee meets the relevant legal requirements before taking a decision.
In Sokoto State, Governor Ahmed Aliyu is a prominent member of the APC, while Dan’iya is seeking to contest the governorship election under the ADC platform.
The reported maternal relationship between Aliu and the governor has therefore become central to the opposition candidate’s objection.
Dan’iya said his position should not be interpreted as an allegation that the nominee had committed any wrongdoing.
Rather, he said the concerns should be addressed through a transparent process that allows the relevant authorities to establish the facts.
“Our concern is not personal; it is about protecting the credibility of the institution responsible for safeguarding the people’s democratic choice,” he said.
He further appealed to Tinubu and the National Assembly to consider the implications of the nomination for public confidence in the electoral process.
According to him, appointments that generate questions about political influence could weaken trust in the commission if the concerns are not properly addressed.
The controversy places attention on the constitutional safeguards governing appointments to INEC, the body responsible for organising and supervising federal and state elections in Nigeria.
Its national commissioners participate in the commission’s work, making the eligibility and impartiality of its members important issues in the administration of elections.
However, allegations of political association and family ties must be distinguished from established evidence of disqualification.
He reiterated his call for the President to reconsider the nomination if the concerns are substantiated and for the Senate to reject the appointment if credible evidence establishes that Aliu does not meet the constitutional requirements.
This article first appeared on Politics Nigeria: https://politicsnigeria.com/2026/10/17/sokoto-adc-candidate-demands-probe-of-inec-nominee-over-apc-links/
The post Sokoto ADC Candidate Demands Probe of INEC Nominee Over APC Links appeared first on Politics Nigeria.
