INEC to deploy 528 adhoc staff for Assembly by-election in Niger

From Daniel Ebi , Minna. 

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC is to deploy 528 poll Officials for the bye-election to fill the vacant seat of Munya State constituency in the Niger state House of Assembly.

The seat became vacant following the death of the member representing Munya  local government in the house  Mr Joseph Haruna Suza on Friday September 13 2024 after a brief illness.

Before his death Mr Haruna Sduza  was the Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Security and Intelligence.

Niger state Resident Electoral Commissioner AlhajiAhmed Yushau Garki made this known during stakeholders meeting held at the commissions headquarters in the Niger state capital.

Garki noted that submission of nominated  candidates by political parties will open on the 22nd of this month and close  on 26th of the same month after primary election, must have been concluded between the 17th and 21St of July.

He said that the constituency has 11 registration areas, 119 polling units and 62459 registered voters.

The resident electoral commissioner disclosed that open campaigns by the political parties will also begin on Saturday, the 2nd of August and end on the 14th of the month while the election would hold on the 16th of the same month.

He charged the political parties to strictly abide by the timetable and also ensure they conducted their campaigns in peaceful and orderly manners while also assuring that the exercise would be  free and fair .

Meanwhile a document sighted at the Commissions office in Minna  shows that two level continuos voters registration- Online and In person will commence nationwide on the 18th of next month for online registration and the 25th of the month for in person registration.

The registrations according to the document will take place at INEC state offices throughout the country.

There is however  heightened security  concerns  in Munya local government of Niger state as the Independent National Electoral Commission concludeds arrangement for  the bye election into the vacant house of Assembly seat in the local government council.

Meanwhile, the resident  electoral Commissioner in the state Alhaji Ahmed Yushau Garki has solicited the  support  of security  agencies. 

During a  courtesy visit on the State Police Commissioner Mr Adamu Abdullahi Elleman that  the election would hold on the 16th of August. 

Yushau Garki said he had paid  a courtesy  visit  to the State Commissioner of Polic to intimate him of the plans and to seek the buy-in of the force for the success of the election.

He submitted that  it was important to inform the Police of the plan because of the  “volatile nature of the areas where the election will take place” and because ” security has a big role to play in the conduct of free and fair election”

In his remarks  Commissioner of Police Mr Adamu Abdullahi Elleman  expressed satisfaction  at the cordial working relationship between both bodies and promised to improve on it, in order to foster a renewed synergy and collaboration. 

He assured the REC of the Command’s support and assistance where necessary to ensure that the Commission’s goals were achieved.