THE Niger State government has not stopped beating its chest for successfully conducting council polls and inaugurating the elected chairmen, despite the protests of some political parties that participated in the polls.The ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) and the state Independent Electoral Commission claim the glory for the peaceful conduct of the polls.Ahead of the polls, tension was high among the parties that participated in the polls, the PDP, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Al Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) and the Action Alliance (AA), traded accusations.The commissioner of police, Mallam Ibrahim Maishanu held a meeting with the leaders of the parties to ensure hitch-free council polls.Despite this, 24 hours to the polls, the CPC issued a press statement alleging a plot by the PDP to manipulate the process. The state party chairman Alhaji Shuaibu Umar accused the PDP of conniving withthe state independent electoral commission to tamper with the voters' register obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the election. The party also complained of plans by the PDP to use security agents to intimidate voters and therefore threatened to boycott the polls.The party eventually boycotted the polls in about five councils, namely Suleja, Magama, Rijau, Borgu and Munya, citing irregularities, insufficient supply of election materials and intimidation.However, the ACN, rather than an outright boycott, took part under protest and vowed to resist any attempt by the PDP to either manipulate or hijack the process.But the PDP publicity secretary, Mallam Idris Saba while dismissing the claims by some parties described the allegations as baseless. He claimed that the PDP did not have to rely on manipulations to win the council polls.The PDP won 24 out of the 25 councils while election was suspended in Kontagora council due to an outbreak of violence in the area. The results of the councillorship election according to the chairman of the state independent electoral commission were being awaited and up till this moment it has not been released.The turnout of voters was low and former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and the state governor Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu described it as a danger for democracy.While Abubakar attributed the low turnout to voters' apathy because of their experience in previous elections, the governor believed that the mobilisation for the election by the state electoral body was poor.Abdulsalami told journalists at the polling booth in his residence shortly after casting his vote that no matter what happened in previous elections, people should not shy away from the council polls because it is closest to the people. He wondered why people were not interested on who governs them, warning that 'if they gave up, it might affect them directly so they should keep trying because we will get it right one day.'The governor said that Nigerians attached more importance to the general election, which according to him is not as important as the council polls where the leaders in the grassroots are elected.The chairman of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), Alhaji Danlami Mohammed Abubakar admitted that despite the hitches, the election was successful. He said: 'We provided the enabling environment for the parties. We toured the 25 councils and the emirate councils to sensitise the electorates, held talk shows on radio and television to ensure a hitch free election.'He decried what he called the attitude of some party leaders who breached the agreement to maintain peace, which he said led to the suspension of election in Kontagora.The chairman disclosed that the state electoral commission invited the Forum of State Independent Electoral Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) led by its chairman, Alhaji Allhassan Abubakar (Ajiyan Das) who is also the chairman of the Bauchi state independent electoral commission, to monitor the elections. In addition to this, the commission accredited over 20 non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations to observe the polls.However contrary to allegations of irregularities and manipulations by some parties, the Network of civil society organisations in Nigeria described the election as 'peaceful.'The Secretary General of the organisation, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu said that despite pocket of lapses orchestrated by the late arrival of electoral materials in some places, the conduct of the polls was generally peaceful.He said: 'From our observations, the polls was keenly contested and although the turnout of eligible voters was encouraging, we witnessed a low turn-out of women in Lapai and Agaie councils.'We can say that the council polls in Niger, was adjudged as free, fair and credible and that the electoral laws and due process were adhered to.'The organisation therefore commended the NSIEC chairman for 'conducting one of the freest and fairest local council polls in the history of Nigeria. Again we equally applauded the conduct of the Nigeria Police and other security outfits for maintaining law and order before, during and after the polls.'However, the organisation recommended that the state electoral commission should collaborate with non-governmental organisations to ensure a more elaborate sensitisation of voters especially women in future elections.Also last week, the Niger chapter of the Congress of Nigerian Political Party (CNPP) joined the network for civil society organisation in commending the state electoral body for conducting a peaceful council polls.The CNPP Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko said that in spite the crisis recorded in Kontagora, Wushishi and Rijau councils, 'the election was 90 per cent successful in the 24 councils.'While inaugurating the council chairmen at the justice Lagbo Kwuigi ultra modern conference hall in Minna, the state governor reminded the chairmen of the importance of the third tier of government to the overall development of the state.
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