Probe Kaduna governor’s aide claim on election results malpractice, group tells INEC

A group operating under the platform of Concerned Citizens for Electoral Accountability in Kaduna State has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging it to investigate alleged remarks by a political aide to Governor Uba Sani suggesting past manipulation of election results in the Igabi Local Government Area of the state. The petition was signed by the founding signatories of the group—Suleiman Usman Yusuf, Jalal Falal, and Abubakar Ibrahim, Esq.—who urged the electoral commission to take swift action to reassure Nigerians that electoral integrity remains a cornerstone of the country’s democratic system. In the petition dated June 1, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman of INEC, the group expressed deep concern over a viral video and subsequent media reports attributed to Hon. Abubakar Mamadi, the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Kaduna State Governor. The petition followed reports that Mamadi, while speaking at a political gathering on May 29, allegedly stated in Hausa that he, alongside the former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, and others, had “written election results” in the Igabi Local Government Area during previous general elections. The group noted that although the authenticity, context, and legal implications of the statement remain subject to verification, the alleged remarks have generated widespread public concern and deserve impartial scrutiny by the relevant authorities. “We do not presume the guilt of any individual and make no definitive allegation that any crime has been committed,” the petition stated. “However, if accurately reported and properly interpreted, the statement appears capable of raising serious questions regarding the integrity of past electoral processes.” According to the petitioners, public confidence in elections is strengthened when allegations or statements suggesting electoral malpractice are subjected to lawful investigation and transparent institutional review. The group warned that the alleged statement could be interpreted as suggesting direct involvement in the preparation, alteration, or manipulation of election results, noting that a failure to investigate the matter could deeply undermine public trust in the country’s electoral system.