The Niger state House of Assembly has ordered the suspension of the already scheduled local government council elections due to insecurity.
The State Independent Electoral Commission had scheduled party primary elections for August 20-27 and the LG election for November 5, 2022.
But the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abdullahi Bawa who gave the directive in Minna on Tuesday, urged the state government to instruct the state electoral commission to suspend the scheduled timetable and comply with section 20 of the Local Government Law and section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The motion for the suspension of the local government elections was raised under matters of public importance by the member representing Bosso Constituency, Madaki Bosso.
The member representing Suleja Constituency said it would be insensitive on the part of the government if it goes ahead with plans to conduct the local government elections considering that several people across the state are affected by one form of insecurity or the other.
“We are in a very challenging period. Apart from the extant laws, as representatives of the people, we know that holding elections this period will send wrong signals to the people that we do not care about their plight,’’ he added.
Liman questioned the government’s intention for scheduling elections when security of lives and properties should be of utmost importance.
