By Yakubu Mustapha Minna
The Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), has reiterated the commitment of the current leadership of the commission for ensuring free, fair, credible, acceptable and peaceful conduct of the councils’ election in the state.
Chairman Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, Engineer Mohammed Jibrin Imam stated this in an interview on the preparedness of the commission with our reporter in Minna, saying that the electoral guidelines will be strictly followed in order to allow rancor free process.
Known for his straight forwardness, Imam charged political parties in the state to also work in compliance with the electoral and party guidelines and rules, adding that the Independent Electoral Commission INEC register would be used for the conduct of the local government elections.
NSIEC Boss reaffirmed that mechanism has been put in place to ensure compliance of the conducts throughout the 25 local government areas of the state, while calling on politicians, electorates, aspirants and candidates to conduct themselves according to the rules of the game.
Imam maintained that the commencement of political party campaigns in public slated for 27th May, 2025 still stands, just as plans are gearing towards a successful 1st November, 2025 councillorship and chairmanships elections in Niger state.
He therefore appealed to the people of the state to support, cooperate and assist in ensuring that the conduct of the grassroot election is not only free, fair, credible and peaceful but also acceptable by its standard.
According to NSIEC, 805 candidates from 10 political parties have indicated interest to contest for the Chairmanship, Vice-Chairmanship and Councillorship in the forthcoming local Councils elections slated for 1st November, 2025 in the state.
The Chairman of NSIEC, Engineer Mohammed Jibrin Imam disclosed this to journalists during a press briefing at the commission’s office while officially flagging off the campaign for the election.
Engineer Imam during the event, added that 69 Chairmanship, 66 Vice-Chairmanship and 670 Councillorships from the 10 political parties have than so far indicated interest in the election to be conducted across the 25 local Councils of Niger state.
According to him, the 10 political parties are as follows; All Progressive Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), ZLP, (5) Labour Party, Booth Party, National Rescue Movement NRM, Action Alliance Accord Party and Action People’s Party.
Engineer Imam who always emphasized on the political parties and their candidates to adhere to the guidelines on the conduct of campaigns as stipulated in the commission’s guidelines which they are all aware of. He further drew the attention of the participating parties that they must realize that their utterances and conduct during the campaigns would enable a peaceful and successful local council elections.
Imam maintained that while the campaigns are on-going, the commission would continue to implement other activities remaining on the time table, which includes, publication of notice of polls, and officially declaring November 1st which is this Saturday as the date for the election and to be announced the same day at both the wards and Local governments.
The Niger state governor, Mohammed Umar Bago appointed the NSIEC Nine-Member-Team sometimes in December 2024 to include the following personalities; Engr Mohammed Jibrin Imam as the chairman, Bar. Mohammed A. Liman Permanent Commissioner 1, Nasiru Ubandiya Commissioner 2, Yahaya Idris Abara Commissioner 3.
The rest were Capt. Mohammed Baro rtd, now late as Commissioner 4, Kabiru Tanko Zama Commissioner 5, Bar. Amina Guar Commissioner 6 and Bar. Ahmed Borgu Commissioner 7 respectively who were mandated to conduct elections at the local government areas of the state.
The Chairman and his team after assumption of office paid courtesy visits to various stakeholders had lauded the major stakeholders, Inter-party Advisory Council IPAC, various Security Agencies, the Journalists and non-governmental organizations for their support and cooperation.
Apparently, after taken charge of the affairs of the commission the new team came up with a timetable and schedule of 15 activities for the conduct of the 2025 local government council election with specific dates to the actual elections day which has been logically and religiously followed to leather.
According to the timetable the 15 activities include; conduct of party primaries, collection of forms and list, declaration of personal particulars of candidates, last day for return of list, publication of personal particulars, collection of nomination forms, list of submissions, withdrawal of candidates and replacement, publication of final list of nominated candidates.
Others were commencement of campaign by political parties in public, publication of notice of poll, submission of names of party agents to respective electoral officers (EO) by participating political parties, end of electioneering campaign and the chairmanship and councillorship elections were specified while non date for the run – off election if any was provided to ensure inclusiveness of all that is needed in elections process.
The State Independent Electoral Commission had trained its electoral officers and senior staff of the commission who have in turn trained the ad-hoc staff of the commission on the processes and duties as respective officers to ensure hitch free election slated for this Saturday, 1st November, 2025.
The training workshop which was held at Haske Luxury Hotel Tunga-Minna where participants were urged to diligently abide by the instructions and adhere strictly with the commission’s guidelines as specified.
NSIEC chairman noted that the results of the council’s election will be declared at the ward and local government levels, while he warned those involved not to allowed their personal interests, partisanship or greed to interfere with their official duties as the law will surely take its course without hesitation.
Engr Jibrin Imam noted that the integrity of the electoral process rests on their shoulders as officers of the commission, assuring to he is doing everything possible to ensure a free, fair, and acceptable election. He, however called on the political actors to cooperate.
He stressed that to achieve a credible elections it must be a product of planning, training, discipline and integrity to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
NSIEC further assured to make 2025 local government elections in Niger state a model of excellence, peaceful, transparent, and credible in line with the democratic aspirations of the people.
He appreciated the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago for his unflinching support for granting operational and financial autonomy to ensure efficient performance, the first of its kind in the country.
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