11,000 Nigeriens vote in country’s general election

No fewer than 11,000 Niger citizens resident in Nigeria are voting in the country’s presidential election today from Nigeria, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Alhaji Aboubakar Kalidu, the President of Nigeriens community in Abuja, told NAN on Sunday in Abuja that the Nigeriens in Diaspora were already mobilised for today’s election.

``The election is starting by 8.30 a.m. at the residence of the Nigerien Ambassador to Nigeria in Abuja.

``There is only one polling station at the residence and only 950 registered voters are eligible to vote from Abuja.

``There are many Nigeriens in Abuja but only 950 were able to register.

``When the voter registration exercise was on, many people were not around because the exercise was not announced on time.

``When it was announced, it was not widely publicised; radio and newspapers were not used to announce and sensitise people about the voter exercise,” Kalidu said.

The Nigerien community leader explained that only the registered voters were eligible to vote in the election, which would end by 3.30 p.m.

NAN recalls that the Secretary General, Niger Republic Community in Nigeria, Sidilghabit Tarwaq, had on Feb. 8 in Kaduna, said a total of 11,000 Nigeriens resident in Nigeria would vote during the country’s election.

Tarwaq said it will be the first time most Nigeriens living outside their country would vote in the country’s general election without necessarily having to go back home.

He urged Nigeriens in diaspora to participate fully in the election and vote for candidates of their choice.

Tarwaq, who is also the Chairman of the country’s electoral body responsible for Nigeria, Gabon, Congo and Cameroon, solicited for the support of Nigerians, especially security agencies to ensure that the election was hitch-free.