Opposition parties and voters in Niger State have rejected the results of Saturday’s local government elections, citing alleged irregularities, voter disenfranchisement, and manipulation in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reports from across the state’s 25 local government areas indicated delays or complete absence of electoral officials and materials at polling units.
Opposition parties accused the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) of colluding with the APC to suppress voter turnout and influence outcomes, claims yet to be addressed by the commission or the ruling party.
Although official results were still being collated at press time, the APC appeared to be leading by wide margins in both chairmanship and councillorship races.
Protests erupted in Suleja, Wushishi, Lavun, and other LGAs, where voters alleged intimidation and result manipulation by security agents.
At the Veterinary Polling Unit in Nassarawa A Ward, Chanchaga LGA, voter Musa Usman Wada said the voter register had been altered, excluding hundreds of voters.
“We expected about 1,500 voters, but the register showed under 500 names,” he said. “Voting didn’t start until late, and many left out of frustration.”
In Rijau LGA, opposition parties claimed no election took place. PDP Returning Officer Abdullahi Shehu Mohammed alleged that most electoral materials were withheld.
“Of the 40,000 ballot papers meant for Rijau, only 35,800 were distributed. The Electoral Officer was missing, and no supervisors or presiding officers were present,” he said.
The SDP Chairman for Chanchaga LGA, Hon. Isah Barau, called the exercise “neither credible nor transparent,” noting that only 110,000 of 220,000 registered voters received ballot papers.
PDP Secretary Bello Nasiru Gabas alleged harassment and detention of party officials by security agents.
“Our deputy chairman was arrested, vehicles seized, and shots fired to disperse us. This was daylight robbery, not an election,” Gabas said.
Efforts to reach APC State Publicity Secretary Musa Danjuma Sarkinkaji for comment were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Governor Umar Bago’s convoy was attacked on Sunday in his hometown of Bida by angry youths.
The mob reportedly pelted vehicles with stones, injuring several people, including the governor’s aide Abubakar Mustapha.
The unrest reportedly followed a failed cash distribution exercise allegedly organized by the governor ahead of the elections, which sparked outrage when only a few people received money.
Youths also vandalized the governor’s billboards and vehicles.
Several attempts to reach the governor’s aides for comment went unanswered.
In a related development, Niger State APC suspended Yusuf Kure Baraje, representing Bosso/Paikoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, over alleged anti-party activities during the council polls.
The suspension letter, signed by APC Paikoro LGA Chairman Baba Achi, directed Baraje to withdraw from all party activities and stop identifying as an APC member.
Baraje was accused of undermining incumbent council chairman Aminu Umar Yadayi.
The suspension highlights ongoing factional disputes within the party, which date back to a controversial consensus arrangement last year.
