INEC assures of free and fair elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC says despite pockets of attacks in Niger state and some parts of country, the Governorship and House of Assembly elections will be conducted throughout the twenty five local government councils this Saturday.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of the state Alh Ahmed Yusha’u Garki gave the assurance in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Minna.
Alh Ahmed Yusha’u Garki explained that the electoral act provide that any place where there is security challenges stakeholders in that area should sit and agree on where they will relocate their polling unit to avoid disenfranchising eligible voters.
According to him, even yesterday bandits in their numbers invaded some parts of Mashegu local government council but were repelled by the Nigerian Army stressing that stakeholders in that place have also agreed on a safer location where the elections will be held.
On the deployment of sensitive electoral materials in the state Alh Ahmed Yusha’u Garki said they have transported election materials to all the twenty five local government councils and that they are at the moment certified intact ready for distribution to wards level in readiness for the election.
He however noted that they have concluded all necessary arrangements to comply with the directive of INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu to start the Governorship and House of Assembly elections by eight thirty am this Saturday to achieve the desired objective.
He also applauded security agencies, traditional rulers, stakeholders Nigerlites and the media for contributing their quota positively to the success of Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state and called for similar support to succeed.
Alh Ahmed Yusha’u Garki added that INEC is ready to provide credible, reliable and acceptable elections in Niger state as well as Nigeria.
Reporting by Aliyu Lawal; Editing by Fany Olumoye and Julian Osamoto