Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has reconstituted the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) with prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) filling key positions.
The governor made the announcement last Tuesday and urged the state House of Assembly to approve the appointments as required by law.
The new chairman of the seven-man commission is Alhaji Jibrin Imam, the former chairman of APC in the state until July 2021. In addition, Captain Mohammed Baro, a former APC chairman of Katcha Local Government, was named Permanent Commissioner IV. Mrs. Amina Guar, the only female appointee and a former Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, will serve as Permanent Member VI.
Other appointees include Alhaji Yahaya Idris Abara as Permanent Commissioner III, Mr. M.A. Liman as Permanent Member I, Nasiru Ubandiya as Permanent Commissioner II, Mr. Kabiru Tanko Zama as Permanent Commissioner V, and Mr. Ahmed Borgu as Permanent Commissioner VII.
Governor Bago emphasized that the appointees were chosen based on their “track records” and tasked them “to discharge their duties fairly and justly while placing the overall interest of the state above theirs.”
“These individuals will be responsible for the conduct of Local Government Elections in the state,” said Bologi Ibrahim, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. However, he clarified that the appointments are “subject to confirmation by the state House of Assembly.”