Niger IPAC Seeks Amendment Of LG Election Law

Niger State Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) is seeking the amendment of the state local government election law, which provided for candidates to pay administrative charges.

The position of IPAC was coming on the heels of N300,000 charges for local government chairmanship seats and N100,000 for councillorship candidates.

The chairman of IPAC, Hon Mohammed Bello Maikujeri, made the council’s position known at a news conference over the weekend in Minna.

He said that though it is provided for in the 2022 local government election law, the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) should be merciful to the candidates as the council seeks amendments.

He said the charges have limited the number of political parties participating in the state’s November 1st local government election this year.

Consequently, he said, “In this regard, IPAC shall initiate the process to get such law amended by the state assembly against future elections.”

However, he advised political parties to show understanding and absolute decorum while venting any grievance on the issue concerning charges by the commission, since the commission did not make the law.

In reviewing Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s two years in office in the state, the IPAC observed that the Governor has achieved success in many sectors, but needs to prioritise security.