A political rift between Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, and the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area, Aminu Yakubu Ladan, is deepening over a tenure dispute and internal party politics within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ladan, whose political career has been shaped by legal battles, first came into office after a court reinstated him as council chairman when he was schemed out after winning the primaries during the last administration.

His comeback was largely credited to influential APC structures loyal to Alhaji Baba Yakubu, a political heavyweight in the state.

As the end of the current local government administration’s tenure approached, Ladan went to court to challenge what he described as an attempt to prematurely end the terms of elected officials. He argued that, like the president and governors, local government chairmen are entitled to a full four-year tenure.

A source close to him said this legal challenge marked the beginning of tensions with the governor, who had reportedly influenced the APC primaries to block Ladan’s re-election bid.

The governor had announced at one of the party stakeholders’ meetings that the APC would adopt a consensus arrangement to select candidates for the local government council elections scheduled for November 1, 2025. But the selection process did not favour Ladan, as his former opponent, Dr. Mustapha Alheri—removed by the court—was selected.

According to APC state officials, even if a consensus candidate emerges from a constituency, the governor reserves the right to replace them. Sources believe Ladan’s exclusion was politically motivated.

“The governor is pushing to hold council elections in November, a move Ladan’s lawsuit directly opposes. The fallout escalated when Chanchaga councillors suspended Ladan from office,” an APC insider said.

The source explained that audio recordings which later surfaced allegedly featured the councillors admitting they were paid by unnamed individuals to remove him.

The state government has since set up a panel to investigate the chairman’s alleged misconduct. This move is seen by Ladan’s camp as a strategic attempt by the governor to legitimise the action.

The political implications go beyond the tenure dispute. Alhaji Baba Yakubu, Ladan’s political ally, is a front-runner for the House of Representatives seat in Chanchaga Federal Constituency, the governor’s own constituency. Relations between the governor and Baba Yakubu have long been strained, and Ladan remains firmly aligned with Baba Yakubu’s political structure.

Analysts, however, said the standoff could weaken the APC in the state, with speculation that Aminu and his allies may defect ahead of the 2027 general elections to challenge the current administration.

Court ruling favours council chairman

The Niger State High Court sitting in Minna has issued an interim order halting the suspension and impeachment process against Ladan.

But weeks after the judgement, the council chairman has not been allowed to resume office.

Justice Mohammed Mohammed, ruling on an ex parte application in Suit No. NSHC/MN/289/2025, granted the orders sought by the plaintiff’s counsel, Anthony Orifunmishe, restraining the defendants, particularly 10 council members, from acting on a suspension notice issued to Ladan on July 28, 2025.

The court also barred the defendants, which include the Attorney General of Niger State and the Commissioner of Police, from initiating or continuing any removal or impeachment proceedings against the chairman pending the determination of a motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.

The case, involving Hon. Yahuza Saidu and nine other council members as the first to 10th defendants, was to resume on August 6 for further hearing, but the presiding judge stepped down from hearing the case following a petition by the Chanchaga LGA councillors, who accused him of partiality. The case was, thereafter, transferred to the Suleja High Court 3 in response to the defendants’ petition.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the Suleja High Court adjourned the suit to September 4.

But as the crisis raged on, security operatives took over the entry gate of the Chanchaga Local Government Secretariat in Minna on the day Ladan was to resume office, August 4, and stopped him from having access to the secretariat.

Subsequently, Governor Bago, on Tuesday, set up a three-man panel to investigate the alleged misconduct against the suspended chairman.

The panel, according to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bologi Ibrahim, is headed by High Court Judge Justice Abdullahi Mikhail, with Barrister Bala Marika and Alhaji Abubakar Salisu as members, while Barrister Ibrahim Mohammed Babangida serves as secretary.

The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State, Barr Nasiru Mu’azu, had earlier explained that the inauguration of the investigative panel is in compliance with the provision of Section 31(3) of the Niger State Local Government Law 2001 (as amended).

The terms of reference for the panel are to investigate the allegations against the suspended chairman, to obtain and examine evidence, and to require that the evidence, written or oral, of any witness be made on oath or declaration, among others.

Ladan had earlier approached an Abuja High Court to stop the Niger State Government, State House of Assembly and State Electoral Commission from conducting the planned council elections scheduled for November 1, to allow council chairmen to enjoy the four-year tenure as ruled by the Supreme Court.

The decision, which did not go down well with the APC leadership, sparked counteractions, including suspension of the chairman.

On August 13, the APC executives in Minna South Ward announced his suspension, citing his alleged refusal to pay the ward party levy for several months.

In the letter, jointly signed by the ward chairman, Salihu S. Ibrahim, and the secretary, the party said the resolution was passed during a meeting held at the Minna South APC Ward office, Gurara, on July 27, where ward executives resolved to suspend the council chairman from the party at the ward level.

According to the statement, Ladan was first issued a letter in early September 2024 by the ward chairman over his failure to pay the party levy. A reminder letter was reportedly sent on February 26, yet the issue remained unresolved.

The resolution, endorsed by the names and signatures of the Minna South Ward APC executives, has been copied to the Chanchaga Local Government APC chairman.

Political observers have noted that if this crisis remains unresolved, the APC in Niger State will likely face threats from defections, including those of prominent members, as the 2027 permutations take effect.

Sources said underground work has begun by some party members to have a strong contender to challenge the governor’s re-election.

A Lapai-based political scientist, Dr. Hamza Kamar, warned that persistent internal crises within political parties have a negative impact on governance and undermine the delivery of the dividends of democracy.

He told our correspondent that “A political party can never be organised if it is divided. Instead of facing one front, you are split. To win an election, there must be unity; there must be an understanding within the party. Under normal circumstances, when you hold a meeting, you argue, deliberate and eventually arrive at a solution. But in this case, they cannot find a solution because they have yet to reach an agreement among themselves.

“In every human organisation, there must be conflict. Conflict is natural and even healthy if it is driven by genuine collective interest — you come out stronger and better. But if it is driven by personal ambition, with some individuals using the party as a tool for their own ends and mobilising others to act accordingly, it will destroy the party.

“Even if they manage to use money to win elections, that conflict will persist because the party will remain divided into camps. Instead of coming together to organise themselves, they will continue to pursue selfish interests against those they see as enemies within the party,” he said. (Daily Trust)