By Abdulkareem Haruna

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Senator representing Borno Central and senior advocate of Nigeria (ior federal lawmakers from Borno State on Saturday declared the state’s local council elections free and credible, praising the security and organization of the vote across the northeastern region.

Senator Kaka Shehu Lawal, representing the Borno Central district, and Abdulkadir Rahis, a member of the House of Representatives for the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, described the polls as transparent and peaceful.

The elections mark the third cycle of local government voting held since Governor Babagana Zulum assumed office six years ago. The regularity of these polls is viewed by state officials as a significant metric of stability in a region that has spent more than a decade grappling with security challenges.

“I must commend the State Independent Electoral Commission for conducting a well-organized election, and the security agencies for ensuring security, peace, and order,” Lawal said after casting his vote at the Lawan Asheik Alhaji Sadiq polling unit in the Shehuri South Ward of Maiduguri.

Despite acknowledging current economic difficulties facing the populace, Lawal noted that the turnout demonstrated a commitment to democratic governance. “For me, the election is credible,” he said.

Rahis, who voted at the Wakil Hassan polling unit in Gwange 1, echoed Lawal’s assessment. He highlighted the “tranquil atmosphere” of the process, emphasizing that the voting was devoid of the rancor that often characterizes local contests. Both lawmakers expressed optimism that the smooth conduct of Saturday’s vote serves as a positive indicator for the general elections scheduled for 2027.
While seventeen political parties had initially signaled an intent to participate in the democratic process, only six ultimately fielded candidates for Saturday’s contest. The main opposition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—a party that is rapidly ceding ground at both the state and national levels—announced its withdrawal in a statement issued Friday, citing the “high cost” of nomination forms as the primary reason for boycotting the polls.

That claim was sharply rejected by Dr. Tahir Sheriff, the chairman of the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission. During a media briefing on election preparations Friday, Sheriff argued that Borno’s fees were among the lowest in the federation, specifically tailored to accommodate the region’s economic realities.

Sheriff noted that the commission pegged the chairmanship form at 500,000 naira and the councillorship form at 250,000 naira. He defended the rates as “fair and considerable,” maintaining that the pricing reflected a sensitivity to the economic hardships currently faced in the state.