Re: Mustapha Salihu’s Candidature and the Burden of Nigeria’s Troubled Electoral History-

YOLA —By Owolabi Olayinka Adenusi

The recent article authored by one Mohammed Ismail and titled “Mustapha Salihu’s Candidature and the Burden of Nigeria’s Troubled Electoral History” appears less like an objective political analysis and more like a desperate attempt to malign the reputation and growing political relevance of Comrade Mustapha Salihu through insinuations, half-truths, and unsubstantiated allegations.

After carefully reading the publication, one is compelled to question not only the motive behind it, but also the glaring hypocrisy, selective outrage, and weak factual foundation upon which the entire argument rests. It is unfortunate that in a democracy that should encourage constructive political engagement, some individuals have chosen the path of propaganda and character assassination instead of facts, fairness, and balanced public discourse.

As a media practitioner based in Adamawa State who has followed political developments within the state and the country for many years, it has become necessary to set the record straight and correct the misleading narrative being circulated in the public domain.

For the avoidance of doubt, I am neither a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) nor a political associate of Comrade Mustapha Salihu.

However, as someone who strongly believes in justice, fairness, democratic principles, and respect for due process, silence in the face of distortion and misinformation would amount to complicity.

First and foremost, it is important to state unequivocally that Comrade Mustapha Salihu emerged under the platform of the APC — the same political party that produced Tijjani Galadima as its gubernatorial candidate.

The APC, like every recognised political party in Nigeria, operates within constitutional provisions, party guidelines, and internal mechanisms designed to regulate its activities and electoral processes.

It therefore becomes intellectually dishonest and politically mischievous for anyone to describe the emergence of Tijjani Galadima as legitimate while simultaneously portraying the candidature of Mustapha Salihu as controversial or unlawful, despite both processes originating from the same party structure and leadership.

Available facts clearly indicate that Comrade Mustapha Salihu had initially secured the APC senatorial ticket for Adamawa Central Senatorial District before influential stakeholders within the party began mounting pressure on him to consider the governorship race due to his growing acceptability, grassroots appeal, and political capacity.

As a disciplined party loyalist who respects leadership and internal democratic processes, Mustapha Salihu reportedly consulted widely with senior party stakeholders and respected leaders within the APC, including Malam Nuhu Ribadu, in order to seek guidance and blessings concerning the governorship ambition being proposed to him.

It is important to clarify that at no point did Ribadu or any recognised party authority publicly reject or condemn Mustapha’s aspiration. Rather, consultations and strategic negotiations were still ongoing within the party regarding the best direction for APC ahead of the elections.

Following several meetings among party stakeholders, Mustapha Salihu was eventually persuaded to step down any governorship ambition and support Tijjani Galadima in the larger interest of party unity, cohesion, and electoral stability. Demonstrating uncommon political maturity, discipline, and loyalty to party leadership, he accepted the decision in good faith and aligned himself with the collective interest of the party.

This singular act alone distinguishes him as a committed democrat who prioritises unity over personal ambition.It is therefore both misleading and dishonest for anyone to attempt portraying the situation as an arbitrary “recycling” of defeated aspirants into elective positions. Such a narrative is not only false but deliberately crafted to inflame public sentiment against an individual whose only offence appears to be his increasing political relevance and acceptance among party faithful and ordinary citizens.

More importantly, Mohammed Ismail’s article exposes a troubling lack of understanding of the political processes and internal negotiations that shaped the events in question. In fact, one of the most glaring weaknesses in his argument is the false suggestion that Mustapha Salihu contested and stepped down from the APC governorship primary election.

The truth remains that Mustapha Salihu did not participate in the APC governorship primary election in the first place. He contested only for the senatorial position — a fact that is already publicly known and verifiable.One therefore wonders why an individual who lacks adequate knowledge of the facts would choose to publish sensational claims capable of misleading unsuspecting members of the public.

Even more disturbing is Mr. Ismail’s attempt to raise constitutional, legal, and moral concerns regarding Mustapha Salihu’s candidature without presenting a single verifiable piece of evidence to support those allegations. Democracy and responsible journalism demand evidence, not speculation; facts, not assumptions; and objectivity, not politically motivated propaganda.

If indeed Mr. Ismail possesses credible evidence showing that Mustapha Salihu obtained nomination forms outside legally approved timelines or violated any electoral provision, nothing stops him from making such evidence public or pursuing lawful channels for redress. Resorting to vague accusations and emotionally charged commentary only weakens his credibility and exposes the political undertone behind the publication.

Nigeria’s democracy undoubtedly faces serious challenges, particularly in the area of internal party democracy and electoral transparency. However, those concerns should not be weaponised selectively against specific individuals simply because they have become politically influential or inconvenient to certain interests.

The controversies surrounding political figures such as Ahmad Lawan and Godswill Akpabio during the 2023 electoral cycle already generated sufficient national debate regarding substitution, consensus arrangements, and party internal mechanisms. Attempting to drag Comrade Mustapha Salihu into unrelated national controversies without evidence merely reflects political desperation and bias.

It is also important to note that, as of today, no recognised member or stakeholder of the APC in Adamawa State has formally challenged, rejected, or legally contested the emergence of Mustapha Salihu. This reality significantly weakens the controversy some individuals are desperately attempting to manufacture around his candidature.

One is therefore compelled to ask: who truly benefits from this sustained campaign of misinformation and calculated attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of his candidacy?Certainly not democracy.

Democracy thrives not on propaganda, blackmail, or sponsored media attacks, but on transparency, fairness, rule of law, and respect for established processes. Public trust in democratic institutions can only survive when political debates are driven by truth and evidence rather than personal vendettas and orchestrated smear campaigns.

Ultimately, until credible legal evidence or verifiable facts prove otherwise, there remains no legitimate controversy surrounding the candidature of Comrade Mustapha Salihu.

What Nigerians deserve at this critical point in the nation’s democratic journey is issue-based political engagement, constructive criticism, and mature democratic discourse — not politically motivated attacks designed to destroy reputations and mislead the public.Owolabi Olayinka AdenusiAdamawa-based Media Practitioner