Jigawa SIEC suspends council polls in two LGAs

The Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission on Sunday in Dutse announced the suspension of council elections in Hadejia and Malam-Madori Local Government Areas of the state.
This was contained in a statement signed by the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Habibu Babura, on behalf of the JSIEC Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Sani.
The commission also announced the suspension of the councillorship election in Gujungu Ward of Taura Local Government Area.
It said the decision to suspend the elections followed the serious breach of peace and disturbances in the affected areas.
The statement said: “By virtue of the powers conferred on the commission, vide Section 79 (3) of the Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission Law Number 3 of 2008, the commission hereby wishes to announce the suspension of the Hadejia and Malam-Madori Local Governments’ elections, as well as the councillorship election in Gujungu Ward of Taura Local Government Area.
“According to Section 79 of the enabling law, where an election has started on the appointed date, but before conclusion there is serious breach of peace and disturbance, or any intervening cause, the election may be suspended and the commission shall appoint a new date for a repeat election.
“The decision to suspend the election was informed by the occurrence of serious breach of peace, ballot boxes’ snatching, mutilation of electoral documents and disturbances which erupted during the conduct of the elections, and which hindered the compilation of the authentic results at the various collation centres.
“The commission will, in due course, announce a date for a repeat election, to be conducted in the two local government areas and one councillorship position in Taura Local Government.”
JSIEC had only released results of nine LGAs.
This was in spite of the fact that a section of the electronic media in the state had announced results of the chairmanship election in 25 LGAs.
The commission’s PRO however said results of the remaining 16 LGAs would be made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday.