By Editor
A staff member of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida, Yahaya Dzukogi, has allegedly been assaulted and whisked away by local security operatives in Niger State after criticising Governor Umar Bago over alleged imposition of candidates following the recently concluded APC primary election.
Dzukogi, said to be from Emi Ajiya Nupe in Bida and a member of the late Alhaji Hamza compound, was seen in a viral video being forced to roll on the ground before being pushed into a waiting vehicle by men believed to be local security personnel.
The incident reportedly followed comments he made in an earlier video where he criticised the political developments surrounding the primary election in the state.
Speaking in Nupe language, Dzukogi accused Governor Umar Bago of allegedly imposing candidates on the people instead of allowing a transparent democratic process.
“The governor thinks he can just wake up and impose any candidate on us,” he reportedly said in the video.
He further questioned the governor’s political approach, adding that the people should be allowed to decide who represents them.
Dzukogi also made comments about the governor’s political future, claiming that Bago may not secure a second term in office.
“Even him, it is only one term that he will do; he will not win his second term bid,” he stated.
Another video circulating online allegedly showed a group of men, reportedly local security operatives who were not in uniform, assaulting him, forcing him to roll on the ground before taking him away in a vehicle.
The development has sparked reactions online, with concerns being raised over freedom of expression and the treatment of critics in the state.
Meanwhile, ahead of the recently concluded All Progressives Congress primary election in Niger State, party leaders had reportedly adopted a consensus arrangement for the emergence of candidates across several constituencies.
Governor Umar Bago was said to have encouraged aspirants and party stakeholders to embrace consensus as a strategy to reduce internal disputes and strengthen unity within the party ahead of the elections.
Following consultations, several aspirants reportedly stepped down for consensus candidates instead of proceeding with competitive voting in some constituencies.
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