Yahaya Zakka Minna.
The Chairman of the Niger state Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), Alhaji Baba Aminu has been removed from office by the state House of Assembly, accusing him of incompetence and his inability to effectively discharge the responsibility of his office.
The Legislators sacked the NSIEC Chairman who appeared before the House to explain why the state electoral body decides to go ahead with the preparations for the conduct of the local government elections in the state despite the resolution passed by the House of Assembly, suspending the process.
The Chairman was removed for his inability to give the details numbers of total registered voters in the state, saying that only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the record.
“I have no account to work on. For the total number of registered voters in the state, I do not know,You will have to go to the federal INEC to get the total number of Voter’s”.
The State Assembly,therefore accused him of incompetence for his inability to give the number of registered voters in the state as the Chairman of the state electoral body preparing to conduct local government election in the state.
The NSEIC Chairman was removed alongside one of his Commissioners who had featured on a radio programme in the state, where he had questioned the power of the State Assembly to shift or suspend the local government elections.
The NSEIC Chairman while answering questions from the lawmakers, also said that he was loyal to two masters, the constitution and his Principal, the state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello.
Responding to a question on why the Commission decides to go ahead with preparations for the conduct of the local government elections, despite the House resolution suspending the exercise, the Chairman, said that he has not received any directive from the Court or the state Government to stop the preparation for the council elections..
This drew the anger of the Legislators who wondered if the Chairman will be an impartial umpire as expected of him since he is now loyal to the Governor.