The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Niger State has called on the state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, to direct Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), Aminu Baba, to issue certificates of return to its eight elected councillors, who won the November 10, 2022 council polls in Katcha Local Council.
A letter of protest, signed on behalf of the party by Mohammed Tsado Mohammed in Minna and forwarded to the governor, claimed the council election was contested by candidates of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and SDP.
According to the letter, “seven months after the conduct of the council election, the state electoral umpire, under the leadership of Aminu Baba, has refused to give the elected councillors their certificates of return.”
The elected councillors, under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), include Abubakar Nda Mohammed of Bakeko Ward, Abubakar Umar (Badeggi Ward), Adamu Abubakar (Bissanti Ward) and Abdullahi Abubakar (Dzwafu Ward).
Others are Adamu Mohammed (Essa Ward), Abdullahi Mohammed Baba (Edotsu Ward), Mohammed Ibrahim (Gbakogi Ward) and Isah Hussaini (Katcha Ward).
The letter stated: “Chairman of the state electoral commission has planned to issue APC candidates certificates of return in the election they lost. Those that won the councillorship seats in Katcha were not issued their certificates of return.
“The suit is already pending before the High Court in Bida Division and the SDP as an applicant in the suit has filed an application before the same court.
“Our affidavit and counter-affidavit are already before the court. It is going to be a disrespect to the court for the commission to turn around seven months after the election to issue certificates of return to APC (plaintiffs) that were not duly elected.”
The letter insisted that any attempt by Chairman of NSIEC and members of staff of the commission to perpetuate illegality “or unconstitutional act, will be met with the full wrath of the law in Niger State and Nigeria, as the SDP will do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure that justice takes its cause against any person that wants to do an illegal act or corrupt practice.”
