LG polls: Niger assembly sacks electoral commission chair over ‘misconduct’

The Niger house of assembly has sacked Baba Aminu, chairman of the state independent electoral commission (SIEC), over alleged misconduct.

According to NAN, the lawmakers sacked the commission’s chairman during plenary on Tuesday.

The house was said to have earlier asked the state governor to stop the Niger electoral commission from conducting the local government elections scheduled to hold on November 5.

The state electoral chairman was sacked following the adoption of a motion by Ahmed Bello, member representing Agwara constituency, and seconded by Binta Mamman, a member representing Gurara.

Abdullahi Bawa, speaker of the house and member representing Tafa, announced the sack of Aminu as state electoral chairman, having obtained two-thirds votes from members in support of his removal.

Bawa said Aminu was removed as a result of “his inability to discharge the functions of his office ranging from inability of the mind and for misconduct”.

Malik Madaki, member representing Bosso, said the law establishing the electoral commission and Nigeria’s 1999 constitution empower the lawmakers to take the action.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers had earlier summoned the state attorney-general and Aminu to appear before the house on September 22.

The invitation was to allow the SIEC chairman explain why preparations for the local government election were not discontinued despite the resolution earlier made by the lawmakers.

According to NAN, the lawmakers had directed that all preparations for the LG elections should be suspended due to a pending matter in court over the exercise.

Aminu, who had honoured the invitation, said he was not answerable to them but the governor, adding that he was yet to receive any directive from the governor to suspend preparation for the LG elections.

The chairman acknowledged that a matter about the election was still pending in court, but said he received no order from the governor on suspending the exercise.

He had, however, said N1 billion was approved for the conduct of the LG election but the commission had not received the fund.

On his part, Aba Bala, member representing Borgu, said Aminu’s loyalty to the governor is questionable and that he may not be able to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections in the state.