Tag: Bauchi state

Low voters turnout characterised the local government election held in Bauchi State on Saturday.

Correspondents, who monitored the exercise in Bauchi, Dass and Tafawa Balewa LGAs report that voting  commenced in most polling centres at about 11:00 am, due to the late arrival of election officials and materials.

Voting commenced late at Junior Secondary School Gwallameji; Kofar Sarkin-Gwalameji, Sa’adu Zungur Comprehensive Secondary School, and GSS Baba-Sidi polling units amid voter apathy.

The voters were queueing orderly and peacefully as election officials and materials arrived the venue, to facilitate smooth conduct of the exercise in most centres visited.

It was observed that there was adequate deployment of security personnel at the centres while most of the residents were going about their normal businesses.

A group of election monitors expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the exercise in the areas visited.

Mr Mamman Eri, the Lead Observer, commended the voters, polling clerks and security agents for the smooth conduct of the exercise.

Eri, who is also the Chairman, Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), led other States’ Electoral Commissioners in motoring the exercise.

“We have gone round some polling units, the election was peaceful, people conduct themselves and the agents of political parties present at the polling units  is commendable,” Eri said.

The Bauchi State High Court has constituted three petition tribunals and an appeal panel, to treat cases on the Aug. 17 local government councils election.

Recall the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission had fixed August 17 for election into the 20 local government councils of the State.

Hajiya Fatima Abubakar, Chief Registrar, Bauchi State High Court stated this at a news conference on Friday in Bauchi.

She said the State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Umar had sworn in the chairmen and members of the petition tribunals as well as the appeal panel on Aug. 12.

Abubakar said the action was in tandem with the provisions of the Bauchi State Electoral Law, 2008, which empowered the Chief Judge to carry out the task.

“Provision of the Section 60 Sub Section 2 of the Law, said an aggrieved party has 21 days within which to file his/her petition from the date of the declaration of the result.

“For the appeal, dissatisfied parties has 14 days from the decision of the tribunal within which to file an appeal,” she said.

According to Abubakar, the tribunal will commence sitting on Aug. 19, adding that the court would have three centres at Bauchi, Ningi and Azare.

“With the time frame of two months for the tribunal and one month for the appeal”.

She said the tribunals would be headed by Magistrate Garba Kundak for Bauchi North Senatorial Zone; Magistrate Isma’il Adam, Bauchi Central Senatorial Zone and Magistrate Safiya Salihu, Bauchi South Senatorial.

While the appeal panel would be headed by Justice Mohammed Sambo.

The statement quoted the Chief Judge, as charging members of the tribunal and the appeal panel to work with the fear of God and ensure quick disposition of matters before them.

The Bauchi  State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) has fixed Aug. 19, 2024, for local government elections in the State.

The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Ahmad Makama, who disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Bauchi, said all necessary arrangements have been concluded to ensure free and fair elections.

He reiterated the commitment of the commission to conduct credible and transparent election, urging citizens to come out and vote for their preferred candidates across all parties on the election day.

He denied any alleged rigging plan in the elections, noting that previous elections were free and fair.

Makama said the commission had organised series of meetings with political parties, security chiefs and relevant stakeholders, as part of the election preparations.

He urged the public to support the commission to ensure hitch-free local government elections.