The Niger State House of Assembly has reiterated that it is within its constitutional rights to remove the NSIEC chairman from office.
The state chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, had argued that the house lacked the legal authority to fire Aminu Baba, the state's chairman of the electoral commission.
Speaking on behalf of the State House of Assembly in Minna, Malik Madaki Bosso, who represents the Bosso Constituency, stated that the constitution was clear regarding the legislature's authority to intervene in such cases.
He said the embattled state chairman of NSIEC was not fit to continue to head the Commission having confessed before the legislators that,” he was only “answerable and loyal to his principal, the governor” and not to his oath of office to be an impartial umpire”.
The lawmaker argued that by such utterance, “the chairman betrayed the confidence the people reposed in him by siding with the governor who belongs to a political party and will do the bidding of his principal and not the will of the people”.
Malik insisted that the chairman and members of the NSIEC by the law establishing the electoral umpire were required not to belong to any political party or be subservient to any authority but the law.
He maintained,” if by any shred of evidence, they show partisanship, then they are not morally fit and should vacate their seats”.
Malik hinged his removal by the House on section 201 subsections 1 and 2, which gave it the power to terminate the appointment of the chairman in a 2/3 majority vote.
It would be recalled that the embattled chairman had appeared before House to answer questions on preparations for the conduct of local governments election, where he told the lawmakers that he was only loyal and answerable to his principal, referring to the governor, and will act according to his orders.