Niger Farmers raise ₦150m for Gov Bago’s nomination form

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has revealed that farmers across the state collectively contributed more than ₦150 million to support his re-election bid on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the development as a major endorsement of his administration’s agricultural policies.

Speaking after submitting his APC nomination form, Bago said the ruling party’s nomination exercise reflects true internal democracy, stressing that all aspirants, regardless of political status, are subjected to the same screening and verification procedures.

“Democracy is in action,” the governor said while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining transparency and discipline within the APC nomination process.

Bago said the most emotional part of the exercise for him was the level of grassroots support he received from local farmers across Niger State.

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

The governor disclosed that about ₦50 million from the contributions was used to purchase his APC nomination form, while over ₦100 million still remains from ongoing donations.

“It’s humbling,” Bago said, noting that many of the farmers supporting his campaign previously struggled to survive financially but are now able to contribute politically due to improvements in agricultural policies and intervention programmes introduced by his administration.

He described the fundraising effort as more than ordinary campaign financing, insisting that it represents direct grassroots approval of his government’s agricultural reforms and rural development initiatives.

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

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

Speaking on the APC primary process in Niger State, Bago said the party is currently working toward achieving 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.

The governor maintained that the growing support from rural communities reflects increasing citizen participation in politics, adding that farmers are no longer merely beneficiaries of government programmes but active stakeholders in shaping political outcomes ahead of the 2027 elections.

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