Niger Political Parties Sign Peace Accord Ahead of November 1 Local Government Elections

Political parties and candidates participating in the November 1 local government elections in Niger State have signed a peace accord pledging to ensure a free, fair, and violence-free exercise.

The accord, brokered by the Niger State Police Command under Commissioner Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, was signed during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Police Officers’ Mess in Minna.

The event brought together representatives of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), security agencies, government officials, and other political stakeholders.

Police Promise Neutrality, Fairness

Commissioner Elleman assured that the police would maintain professionalism, impartiality, and fairness throughout the electoral process, pledging to create a safe atmosphere before, during, and after the polls.

He also appealed to youths across the state to avoid violence and work towards peaceful elections.

NSIEC Outlines Election Guidelines

In his remarks, NSIEC Chairman Mohammed Imam said the commission had outlined a 15-point election guideline governing the conduct of the polls. The upcoming exercise will involve the election of 25 local government chairmen and 274 councillors across 4,950 polling units.

Political Parties Commend Preparations

The IPAC Chairman, Isah Makujeri, commended both the NSIEC and the police for their cooperation and level of preparedness, expressing confidence that the election would be peaceful and transparent.

The peace accord explicitly prohibits the use of religious, ethnic, or inflammatory language during campaigns and mandates all political actors to uphold its principles of tolerance and respect.

Commissioner Elleman reaffirmed the Police Command’s neutral stance, emphasizing that credibility and public trust would guide their operations throughout the exercise.