Farmers rally behind Gov Bago, donates ₦150m for APC nomination form

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has disclosed that local farmers across the state collectively raised more than ₦150 million to support his re-election bid under the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the gesture as a strong vote of confidence in his administration.

Speaking after submitting his APC nomination form, Bago said the ruling party’s nomination process reflects internal democracy and fairness, stressing that every aspirant, regardless of status, is subjected to the same screening and verification procedures.

“Democracy is in action,” the governor stated, while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring discipline and transparency within the party’s electoral process.

Bago, however, drew attention to what he described as the most emotional aspect of his political journey — the overwhelming financial support from grassroots farmers in Niger State.

According to him, the donations came in small amounts from ordinary farmers, with some contributing ₦1,000 and others ₦2,000, but eventually grew into over ₦150 million.

The governor said about ₦50 million from the contributions was used to purchase his APC nomination forms, while more than ₦100 million remains available from ongoing donations.

“It’s humbling,” Bago said, noting that many of the farmers contributing to his campaign previously struggled financially but are now able to support political causes due to improvements in agricultural policies and government intervention programmes.

He described the fundraising effort as more than campaign financing, saying it represented direct grassroots endorsement of his administration’s agricultural reforms and rural development policies.

Bago also highlighted recent federal support to the agricultural sector in Niger State, including the recent visit of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who launched the distribution of farming equipment and agricultural inputs for the 2026 farming season in Minna.

The governor further referenced collaborations with agencies such as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), explaining that efforts are being intensified to improve early warning systems, disaster preparedness, and agricultural planning.

On the APC primary process in Niger State, Bago said the party is working toward building consensus among aspirants but remains prepared to conduct direct primaries if necessary.

“We are trying to build consensus across the board, then we’ll go for direct primaries if necessary,” he said.

Bago maintained that the growing support from rural communities demonstrates increasing citizen participation in politics, adding that farmers are no longer just beneficiaries of government policies but active stakeholders in shaping political outcomes.