Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has stated that losing three councillorship seats out of 274 to the opposition in last Saturday’s local government elections adds credibility to the just ended polls.
Bago made the statement while receiving the 25 chairmen-elect and their deputies from the All Progressives Congress, or APC, at the Government House in Minna.
The newly elected council chairmen and their deputies went to the Government House promptly after obtaining their certificates of return from the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC).
While congratulating them, the governor encouraged them to be magnanimous and modest in triumph, as well as to extend a hand of fellowship to their opponents.
He also urged them with working together and harmoniously to achieve successful service delivery at the grassroots level, while promising them of his administration’s complete support.
Bago also asked outgoing chairs to begin planning for a seamless transition process.
On the topic of Paikoro Local Government, the governor warned the party against acting in contempt of court and advised patience until the court’s decision.
Alhaji Aminu Musa Bobi, the APC State Chairman, congratulated the newly elected chairmen and their deputies, and thanked the governor for his consistent support, which led to the APC’s electoral victory.
Speaking on behalf of the new chairmen, ALGON chairman Alhaji Iliyasu Zakari stated that the visit was to give their certificates of return to the governor and express gratitude for his assistance.
Some of the newly elected chairmen also told journalists that their administrations would focus women’s and youth empowerment, as well as education and other critical sectors, to bring about change in rural communities.