Nasarawa group raises concern over political appointees’ premature campaigning
Nasarawa group raises concern over political appointees’ premature campaigning
The Nasarawa State Transparency, Accountability, and Good Governance Group (NS-TA&G2) has expressed concern over what it described as growing political activities by certain public office holders in the state.
It warned that such actions risk undermining governance and violating electoral regulations.
Mr Lazarus Salaki, spokesperson of the group raised the concern during a press conference on Sunday in Lafia.
He cited a directive issued on April 16, 2024, by the former Secretary to the Government of the State, Mohammed Ubandoma, instructing all political appointees with electoral ambitions to resign or suspend political activity until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifts the ban.
Salaki said that despite this directive, some appointees continued to campaign and hold political meetings while still serving in office.
“We have observed with deep concern that certain political office holders within the current administration are actively participating in political activities while occupying sensitive public positions.
“This is not only a violation of electoral law but also a distraction from the administration’s core vision of ‘Exceeding Expectations’, ” he said.
The group commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his leadership and urged him to enforce the directive uniformly across his administration, warning that failure to do so could set a dangerous precedent.
The group mentioned and praised the current Secretary to the Government of the State, Labaran Magaji, SAN, for exhibiting restraint and discipline despite his recent elevation to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria by advising supporters to delay celebrations until formal confirmation.
However, the group expressed strong concerns about the conduct of the state’s Accountant General, Musa Ahmed-Mohammed, for alleged involvement in covert political activities, including organising secret meetings and promoting campaign materials under a group known as the “Barade Network.”
“If these allegations are true, they represent a serious conflict of interest. The office of the Accountant General is apolitical and must be held to the highest standards of neutrality and professionalism,” Salaki stated.
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The group called on Ahmed-Mohammed to resign if he intends to pursue political office, in compliance with Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the governor’s directive.
The group also warned that the selective enforcement of regulations could erode public trust and fuel accusations of bias within the administration.
“A government committed to fairness and integrity must enforce its rules consistently and without exception,” Salaki emphasised.
He reaffirmed the commitment of NS-TA&G2 to promoting transparency, equity, and the rule of law in the state, reiterating that public office must be used to serve the people; not personal ambition.
Meanwhile, efforts to get the reaction of the Accountant General proved abortive as he neither responded to text message or phone call placed to his mobile phone at the time of this report.
