Muhammad Garba
Allegations of financial misappropriation by the Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission (JSIEC) is already threatening the conduct of local governments elections scheduled to take place on Saturday.
The commission was said to have awarded different contracts and recruitment without following due process which contravene the public procurement law.
The commission was also accused for allegedly taxed the 27 local government council the sum of N382 million for financing the Saturday 26th June council election.
The money was allegedly collected from the local government council in two different payment of N7 million each between April and May.
A source from the commission, who pleaded anonymity said, they resolved to sourced money from local government council as the allocation they received from the state government was not more than 40 percent of their budget.
Finding by Stallion Times reporter gathered that the commission use the funds collected from the local government councils and paid them selves some allowances and out of pocket expenses.
He also gathered that the remaining part of the money was used to awarded a contract for the production of election materials.
The processes of financing the election and mechanism used for the expenditure has generated a lot of controversy and public debate which raised questions marks on the ability of commission to conduct credible election.
Some of the political parties who field candidates for the election have already started considering withdrawing from the election for fear of not greeting justice.
According to a political analyst Comrade. Ibrahim Musa Dutse, said, nothing can stop the conduct of election now, but the political parties have all reasons and ground to challenge the election conduct in court.
When contacted the chairman of the State Independent Electoral Communication (SIEC), Alhaji Adamu Ibrahim through the commission’s Chief of Media and Public affairs, Mr Habibu Yusif Adamu said “we are in crucial meeting”.
The Director Media and Public Affairs maintain that “I’m delegated to inform you that management is in crucial meeting, neither the chairman nor any of the commissioner would to talk to you, but the said allegation is not true.”
