Niger Electoral Commission Accused of Delaying Election Documents

The Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) has been accused of employing delaying tactics in releasing certified true copies of election materials to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate in Rijau Local Government, Umar Buda Abubakar. Abubakar’s lawyer, Barrister Emmanuel Egbonoje, submitted a formal request for the documents on 11 November, but the commission has yet to release them, citing “security reasons”.

According to Egbonoje, NSIEC officials initially promised to make the materials available over the weekend. However, when he and the candidate visited the office on 15 November, they found only the secretary, who claimed he had no instructions to release the documents. The lawyer expressed disappointment that the commission’s office was not fully active or accessible to the public during the post‑election period.

The PDP candidate is seeking the documents to file a petition with the election tribunal, but with only 21 days left to submit, time is running out. Egbonoje warned that they may be forced to approach the court to compel NSIEC to release the documents. Abubakar alleged that there was no real election in Rijau, and suggested that the delay may be related to this claim.

When contacted, NSIEC Secretary Malam Danjuma Bisallah confirmed receipt of the request and assured that the lawyer would be given the certified true copies, but stated that he is not authorized to issue them. The delay has raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of the electoral process in Niger State. The request for election materials is a standard procedure, and any postponement can hinder the candidate’s ability to file a petition within the timeframe prescribed by the Electoral Act.

The situation highlights the importance of timely access to election materials and the need for electoral commissions to operate transparently and accountably. As the filing deadline approaches, the PDP candidate and his legal team are left with limited options, and the court may become the only recourse to compel NSIEC to release the documents.