APC sweeps Niger LG polls as tribunal begins hearings on election petitions

APC sweeps Niger LG polls as tribunal begins hearings on election petitions

The Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) has officially declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of all 25 chairmanship seats in the recently concluded local government elections held last Saturday across the state.

In addition to the chairmanship sweep, the APC secured 271 out of 274 councillorship positions, leaving the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with just three seats in Tafa and Rafi Local Government Areas.

In a statement issued in Minna and signed by NSIEC’s Commissioner for Operations, Barr. Mohammad Liman, the Commission confirmed that the elections were conducted successfully in all 25 local councils. Liman noted that collation and declaration of results were completed by Returning Officers in accordance with electoral laws and operational guidelines.

“After a thorough review, the Commission ratified the results and confirmed the election of candidates from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in all chairmanship positions,” the statement read.

NSIEC added that Certificates of Return will be presented to the elected officials in due course.

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Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, has inaugurated a 12-member election tribunal to hear petitions arising from the polls. During the ceremony, she urged tribunal members to uphold the highest standards of integrity and resist political influence.

“Please, do not disappoint us. Do not betray the confidence reposed in you,” she cautioned. “You should protect yourselves from politicians because you have a name and the integrity of the judiciary to protect.”

Justice Abdulmalik emphasized that all proceedings are time-bound under the state’s electoral laws, reminding members that the tribunal has 90 days to hear and dispose of all matters, while the appellate division has 60 days.

“The courts have no discretion to extend time,” she stressed. “Avoid technicalities—the era of technical justice is long past.”

The sweeping victory by the APC is expected to spark political reactions, especially from opposition parties and civil society groups monitoring the electoral process. With the tribunal now in place, attention will shift to the legal challenges and scrutiny of the conduct of the elections.

As Niger State moves forward with its new local government leadership, stakeholders are calling for transparency, accountability, and peaceful resolution of any disputes arising from the polls.

APC sweeps Niger LG polls as tribunal begins hearings on election petitions