Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, has announced the retention of his deputy, Yakubu Garba, as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
The governor made the announcement on Tuesday at the Government House in Minna, the state capital.
Bago said the decision was in line with the constitutional provision requiring a governorship candidate to nominate a running mate for submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“According to the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when the governor is to submit a nomination to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he shall nominate a deputy governor.
“In the last few months, a lot of things have been in the air. So, I have called you to come and witness that my Deputy, Yakubu Garba, is still my running mate in 2027,” the governor said.
The announcement comes amid speculation over the identity of Bago’s running mate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Garba, a retired civil servant and politician from Shiroro Local Government Area, has served as the state’s deputy governor since May 29, 2023.
Before becoming deputy governor, he represented Shiroro Constituency in the Niger State House of Assembly, where he occupied several leadership positions.
He also served in various capacities in the Niger State civil service before venturing into partisan politics.
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