Borno lawmakers-elect get certificates of return

Elected lawmakers in Borno state for the national and state Assembly elections were yesterday presented certificates of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

INEC National Commissioner in charge of Borno, Yobe and Bauchi states, Col Mohammed Hammanga (rtd) while speaking earlier before the presentation of the certificates said incidence of violence in some parts of the country that trailed the conduct of the election were a serious setback in the journey to matured electoral culture.

He said the commitment shown by political stakeholders during the elections to move the electoral process to greater heights was quite encouraging.

Col Hammanga also commended the electorate in the state for coming out to exercise their franchise, despite some misdoings that threatened peace and security of some election personnel.

Earlier in his address, the resident electoral commissioner in the state, Professor Tukur Sa’ad said the conduct of elections in the state is not without challenges.

He said: “In some parts of the state, our officers were forced to live under perpetual fear and threat to life. Staff and members of the NYSC who took the pain to salvage the country from its age-long electoral problem were also not spared”.

Those presented certificates include Senator Lawan Maina Ma’aji who was re-elected under the ANPP to represent Borno North constituency, Ahmed Zanna of PDP who defeated governor Ali Modu Sheriff for Borno central senatorial district while Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) did not attend the occasion.

In the House of Representatives, five out of the ten elected members from ANPP and PDP were issued certificates of return while in the State House of Assemly, 20 members out of the 28 members were presented with certificates and the others were absent at the occasion.

Senator Lawan Mai’na Ma’aji who spoke on behalf of the other elected lawmakers thanks the electorates for having confidence in them saying they will work for the betterment of the people of their constituency and the state at large.

Senator Ma’aji commended INEC for conducting successful elections adding that since 1999 to election is better that the just concluded 2011 elections in the country.

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