LG Election Holds Amid Skirmishes In Niger

The local government election in Niger State witnessed an appreciable turnout of voters yesterday amid a few skirmishes as the election materials kept in Magama local government area were torched by some irate youths.

LEADERSHIP Sunday findings revealed that the youths acted on reports of alleged missing result sheets in the materials delivered for the election and set fire on other election materials.

Speaking with our correspondent, the commissioner in charge of the election for Niger North, Alhaji Yahaya Abarah, said the materials for two polling units in the area were burnt.

He said, as a result, the elections in the two polling units were cancelled but the elections in  Nasko ward and the entire Magama local government area were going on smoothly.

Also, in Lavun and Suleja, there were reported cases of ballot boxes being snatched and the absence of result sheets for some polling units

Meanwhile, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has expressed satisfaction with voter turnout for the council elections.

Bago stated this shortly after he voted at his Tswashagirabba polling unit 010, Landzun ward, Bida local government area of the state.

He said the turnout of voters, especially in his ward, is impressive, an indication of the acceptance of the system and the electoral process.

“This is an experience that will show the acceptance of democracy in Nigeria.

“The way the people came out here is unprecedented; even at the general elections, we didn’t have this number, so it means the populace trusts the system,” he declared.

He enjoined voters to continue to conduct themselves orderly and wait patiently for the results to be announced while wishing the candidates success.