Adedokun Waliyu 
The Niger state local government election has suffered a serious setback as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) denied the request of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission to use INEC ballot boxes for the elections. This is just as a Federal High Court Sitting in Minna called for the suspension of the elections scheduled for the 10th of November.
The letter denying NSIEC the use of the INEC ballot boxes with the memo number INEC/SEC/442/VOL.1 and dated 28th October 2022 was signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the Secretary to the Commission. The letter read, “Re: Request for use of INEC Ballot Boxes by the Niger state Independent Electoral Commission. Your letter No. INECNGS/SEC/189 dated 21 October 2022 on the above subject refers.
“Be informed that the request by the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission for use of INEC Ballot Boxes is NOT APPROVED. Furthermore, you are directed not to release any of the Commission’s facilities beyond the Voters’ Register in view of our heightened preparations for the 2023 General Election. Please be guided.” In a related development, the Federal High Court Sitting in Minna has insisted that the NSIEC suspends the local government polls.
The Judge, Justice Aminu Garba asked the state Attorney General to advise the State Independent Electoral Commission on the reasons why it needs to suspend the process and obey the court’s orders. Garba stated this when he sat over the case of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had approached the court alleging a violation of the provision of the Constitution and the electoral act on the procedures related to the conduct of the election.
Responding to the argument by the state Attorney General, Nasara Danmallam, that the Court cannot make an order suspending the process of the elections, the Judge adjourned the case to 2nd November to address the jurisdiction of the court in hearing and determining the case.
