Niger State’s electoral body presents certificates of return to 24 chairmen-elect, others

Twenty-four local government area (LGA) chairmen-elect and their councilors received their certificates of return from the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC).

Presenting the certificates on Wednesday in Minna, Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Baba Aminu, said the certificates were the proof that they had been duly elected as chairmen and councilors of their respective councils.

The electoral body had on Nov. 10, conducted the local government polls.

Aminu said the presentation of certificates marked the starting point of their mandate and fulfillment of the pledges they made to their constituents.

“As you accept the affixed honourable name to your individual names, I urge you to live by that.

“Be honourable in your conduct, in your character and dealings with your constituents; and above all be honourable to your conscience,” he said.

The NSIEC chairman reminded the newly elected public officers that finances of their local government were for socio-economic development, and not funds to change their personal lives.

He urged them to be close to their constituents, and not be diaspora chairmen, who live in the urban areas and only visit when monies were to be disbursed.

Aminu also charged them to be God fearing as they had only been given an opportunity to serve their people, and not to be lords over them.

He noted that their positive performance at the grassroots would help strengthen democracy, while poor performance would lead to more apathy against democracy and disrupt the democratic process.

He commended Gov. Abubakar Sani-Bello, for remaining a true democrat by giving the commission the free hand to conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable polls.

Responding, Mr Danladi Iya, Chairman-Elect of Tafa LGA, said they would ensure the people enjoyed the dividends of democracy because they gave them the mandate.