The Labour Party in Sokoto State has asked the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission to explain worries about the nomination of Professor Mustapha Aliyu. He is the elder brother of Governor Ahmed Aliyu and is nominated as the national commissioner for the North-West.
The party is worried about the nominee’s supposed ties to the All Progressives Congress. They say that questions about political fairness need to be answered to keep the public's trust in the electoral process before the 2027 elections.
President Bola Tinubu announced Aliyu’s nomination on October 16, 2026. He also nominated three other national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners to fill vacancies created by the end of previous tenures. These nominations need to go through the necessary confirmation steps.
The African Democratic Congress had criticized the nomination earlier. They raised concerns about the family connection between Aliyu and the Sokoto governor, who is an APC member running for re-election in 2027. They worry this could affect the independence of the electoral commission.
But the Sokoto State Government has defended the nomination. They insist it was based on merit and argue that Aliyu is not a member of the APC.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Sokoto State Labour Party Chairman, Abubakar Yawale, said the nomination brings up key issues about fairness, independence of institutions, and the credibility of the 2027 elections.
"INEC is a constitutionally established body responsible for conducting free, fair, credible, and transparent elections," Yawale said.
He added that people appointed to important electoral roles must show neutrality and avoid situations that could seem like political bias or a conflict of interest.
While he acknowledged that every qualified Nigerian has the right to public office, the Labour Party chairman stressed that appointments to the electoral commission must build trust across all political groups.
"When there are questions about family ties to current political officeholders and claims of membership in a political party, the right bodies should clearly address those concerns," he said.
Yawale called on the Federal Government and INEC to openly clarify Aliyu’s qualifications, the appointment process, and his official duties.
The party also wants the commission to find out if the nominee is a registered APC member. They seek an explanation of how the relevant laws about political fairness have been checked.
The Labour Party further urged INEC to ensure that its appointments and decisions follow the Constitution, electoral laws, and the expected standards of fairness.
They also want the commission to treat all registered political parties equally, including the Labour Party, as the 2027 elections approach.
"The Labour Party wants to stress that this is not a personal attack on anyone or their family. It is a call for accountability, transparency, and strict adherence to the rules governing Nigeria’s electoral bodies," Yawale said.
He emphasized that public trust in elections relies not only on the legality of appointments but also on how transparent the process is and how well electoral bodies show neutrality.
The party urged INEC and the relevant authorities to address these issues for the sake of democracy, the credibility of institutions, and the trust of Nigerian voters.
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