Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has vowed to follow in the footsteps of President Bola Tinubu by probing former political appointees who defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC), following a wave of defections that hit the ruling party in the state after its primary elections.
Bago made the declaration on Sunday during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Minna.
The meeting was convened to reconcile aggrieved APC members who lost out in the party’s consensus arrangements for the 2027 general elections.
It was attended by most of the unsuccessful governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly aspirants, many of whom had expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the primaries. Some of the aggrieved aspirants had earlier met in Abuja to discuss their next political steps.
The disagreements within the party later triggered the defection of several former commissioners, former local government chairmen, former councillors and other key political appointees who served under the immediate past administration.
The latest group of defectors was led by a former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Alhaji Maikil Bmitosahi, who accused Governor Bago of running what he described as a one-man government.
Addressing party members, Bago appealed to those aggrieved by the primary election outcome to set aside their grievances and continue supporting the APC and his administration.
He commended the aspirants for their patience and understanding, assuring them that his administration remained open to accommodating party members in various positions while continuing to implement people-oriented policies for the development of the state.
The governor, however, warned those planning to leave the party against making public attacks on his administration.
According to him, “Those who want to leave the party should do so quietly without making noise or would be put where noisemakers are.”
Bago said he possessed files containing details of alleged misconduct by former political appointees but had chosen not to act on them in the interest of peace.
He said, “I have the files of all former appointees of the immediate past administration and their dirty deals, but I decided to keep quiet for peace to reign in the state.”
The governor added that he was prepared to follow President Tinubu’s approach in dealing with political opponents.
He said he will follow the footsteps of President Tinubu who has put noisemakers where they belong.
“I’m his son, my father cannot be ruthless and I will be quiet,” he said.
Bago also cautioned individuals using social media to spread what he described as false information against his government, urging them to make use of the Freedom of Information Act where necessary or face legal consequences.
National Vice Chairman of the APC (North Central), Mu’azu Bawa, and the Niger State APC Chairman, Musa Bobi, praised the governor’s leadership, saying it had strengthened the party in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the House of Representatives aspirants who lost the primaries, Abdulrazak Jakadan Borgu reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC and pledged to work for the party’s victory in the 2027 general elections.
He said the aspirants had accepted the outcome of the primaries and remained committed to the unity and success of the party.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the Tinubu administration has faced repeated allegations from opposition parties and critics of using anti-corruption agencies to investigate and prosecute some high-profile former APC members and defectors, including Nasir El-Rufai and Abubakar Malami, while allegedly overlooking some serving APC figures facing corruption allegations.