The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Borno State has disowned its senatorial candidate for Borno Central senatorial district in the 2023 elections, Atom Magira, who was arrested and detained by the State’s Police Command.
Magira’s personal assistant, Mohammed Yahaya, who confirmed the detention of his principal, said that he was taken into custody by operatives of the Borno State Police Command on Sunday night over alleged criticism of Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum.
But, reacting to the development, the chairman of NNPP in Borno State, Barr. Mustapha Mohammed, said the embattled politician resigned from the party over a month ago, adding that Magira has since left the party.
He further said as a lawyer, what the detained former NNPP chieftain did, which was addressing himself as ‘His Excellency’ was an offence of impersonation and breaking of electoral law.
“Atom Magira is no longer a member of our party. He left the party over a month ago. So there is no chieftain of NNPP in police custody in Borno,” the party chairman said.
Magira, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirant in the 2019, is known as a leading opposition figure in the state. He had been vocal in challenging Governor Zulum’s policies.
Sources said his detention was not unconnected to a billboard sponsored by supporters of the “Yes To Merger” campaign, which called for a merger of political parties in the state.
The billboard, featuring Magira’s image and the slogan “Say Yes To Merger,” was reportedly destroyed by unidentified individuals.
“It is on the orders of the state government. They don’t want a serious opposition in the state. Whoever will do that will be crippled; that’s the norm since 1999, but Magira has remained consistent to offer a credible and constructive opposition in Borno State,” a source alleged.
As of Monday morning, Magira remained in detention, with no clarity on whether he would be charged to court or not.
Efforts to reach the Borno State Police Command’s spokesman, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, for comment were unsuccessful at press time.
