Virtually all the polling units in Lavun Constituency of Niger witnessed early arrival of electoral materials in the state’s assembly by-election on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that electoral materials arrived as early as 7.30 a.m.
The election holds in nine registration areas across 32 poling units in Lavun with registered voters of 19,121.
The contest is between the member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Baba Yusuf-Dabban and Mr Jibrin Ndagi-Babba of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Yusuf-Dabban was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 2023 general elections, while Ndagi-Babba, who challenged his declaration, is a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.
NAN also reports that about seven to eight security personnel from security agencies are present at the seven polling units of Elomi, Sokomba, Latiko, Doko, Emigba, Manbwari and Yafu.
Some of the electorate who spoke with NAN commended INEC for early arrival of election materials and presence of security personnel.
Ndagi-Baba who polled 18,200 votes against the PDP’s Yusuf-Dabban who scored 20, 429 to emerge winner in the general elections alleged some irregularities.
Currently, the APC has 22 out of the 27 constituency seats in the State Assembly, while the PDP has five.
Recall that the appeal court had on Nov. 24, 2923 upheld the judgment of the tribunal directing a rerun in nine registration areas across 32 polling units with about 19,121 registered voters to partake in the exercise on Feb. 3.
