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INEC moves polling units in five electoral wards to safer grounds
From John Adams, Minna
There was a massive turnout on Saturday’s by-election for the vacant seat in the Niger State House of Assembly in Munya Constituency under tight security.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state was forced to relocate polling units in five electoral wards in the Munya Local Government Area to safer grounds due to security challenges occasioned by the activities of bandits in the affected areas.
The affected electoral wards are Kuchi, Beni, Dangunu, Kabila, and Kazai.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Ahmed Yushau Garki, told newsmen that the commission decided to take the step in the interest of voters’ and electoral officials’ safety.
Garki said, though it was said that peace had returned to the affected areas, “We didn’t want to take chances.”
The election, which started at exactly 8:00 a.m., saw the electors lined up for accreditation, which was immediately followed by normal voting under very tight security.
As of 2:00 p.m., when the election was over and awaiting the counting of votes, there was no report of any violence or electoral malpractices in any of the 11 wards in the Munya State Constituency.
The State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Alhaji Isah Mohammed Maikujeri, expressed satisfaction with the process and the voting in the election.
“From what we have observed so far, I can say that the election was very peaceful and the turnout quite encouraging,” he said.
The State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, who was in Munya to monitor the election, said he was satisfied with the peaceful atmosphere across all the 11 electoral wards in the constituency.
He commended the security agents deployed to monitor the election for their professionalism before and during the election, saying, “This is my very first election in the state, and I am quite impressed with the way the electors have conducted themselves,” he added.
Also on the ground to monitor the election was the State Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba, who expressed satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of the election.
The Deputy Governor commended INEC and the security agents for a job well done, saying, “I am very impressed and satisfied with the peaceful atmosphere. This is good for our democracy.”
The by-election had become necessary following the death of the member representing the constituency in the State House of Assembly, Mr Haruna S. Duza, almost a year ago.
All the political parties fielded candidates for the by-election, the results of which are being awaited.