The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women leader in Niger State, Mrs Salome Fatima Nnawo Ndakotsu, has publicly and vehemently rejected the official results of the recent local government elections in the state. She declared that the outcomes announced by the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) are a complete misrepresentation of the will of the people.
Election Was Stage-Managed, Says PDP Official
Mrs Ndakotsu stated unequivocally that a genuine election did not take place in Niger State on November 1, 2025. She described the entire exercise as a sham, orchestrated to produce a predetermined result. "Well, I wouldn't say there is a real election in Niger state because of all the things that transpired in the whole process," she asserted. The PDP women leader emphasized that this view is shared not only by her party but also by other political parties and even non-partisan observers who witnessed the events.
Detailed Allegations of Electoral Malpractice
Mrs Ndakotsu provided specific instances of the irregularities that marred the poll. She revealed that in approximately four or five local government areas, no voting occurred at all, yet the electoral body proceeded to announce results for those councils. In other locations, she reported severe disruptions, including:
- Snatching and destruction of ballot boxes.
- Manipulation of electoral materials.
- Intimidation of voters and officials.
She painted a picture of chaos, noting that in some areas, electoral officers vanished after dumping materials, making a legitimate process impossible. "The materials are simply left there, yet the result is out. That was exactly what happened in places where they knew they couldn't succeed," she lamented.
No Faith in Tribunal and Broader Governance Issues
When questioned about the party's plan to seek legal redress at an election tribunal, Salome Ndakotsu expressed a profound lack of confidence in such a process, suggesting it would not deliver justice. Furthermore, she connected the flawed electoral process to broader issues of governance in the state. She accused the APC-led state government of crippling local administrations for almost a decade, alleging that federal allocations meant for local governments never reach them.
"Just go to the headquarters, secretariat, to see what is happening there; even the workers are no longer there. If you go to my local government today, you will shed tears, because children are no longer going to school," she stated, highlighting the dire consequences of this financial strangulation on public services and education.
New PDP Chairman Pledges Reform
In a related development, the newly elected National Chairman of the PDP, Kabiru Turaki, SAN, used his acceptance speech at the party's Elective Convention in Ibadan to promise a new era. He vowed to return power to the Nigerian people and end impunity. Turaki made a direct appeal to the judiciary, urging them to uphold democratic principles and avoid actions that could be perceived as truncating democracy. He famously declared, "No more monkey dey work, baboon dey chop," a pidgin English phrase meaning an end to a system where some labour while others reap the benefits unjustly.
