Niger gov wants guber aspirant prosecuted for double registration

Dipo Laleye, Minna - 15.04.2008

NIGER State governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, on Monday revealed that one of those that contested the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in the state engaged in double registration as a voter.

Governor Aliyu, who made the revelation when he received the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Alhaji Kabir Ahmed, in his office, described the action of the aspirant as a violation of the Electoral Act and the constitution.

Dr. Aliyu, therefore, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute the politician to serve as a deterrent to others.

The governor threatened that if INEC failed to prosecute the politician, the state government would not only take up the case, but also drag the electoral body to court for failing in its constitutional duty.

Dr. Aliyu said assignment of the electoral body went beyond conduct of elections as it should pursue the enlightenment of the electorate so that the mistakes they committed in the last election would not be repeated in subsequent ones.

The electoral commissioner, Alhaji Ahmed, said the successful conduct of the re-run elections in Kogi State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was an indication that INEC had improved on the performance of its roles.

While adjudging the elections in the two areas as one of the freest in the history of the country, Alhaji Ahmed said the commission would continue to build on the success recorded.