Yobe Electoral Body Issues Certificates to 17 New LG Chairmen

The Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (YOSIEC) officially presented certificates of return on Tuesday to the seventeen individuals recently elected as local government chairmen, along with their deputies. This significant event, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), followed the successful and peaceful conduct of the local government elections held across the state on September 26.

During the presentation ceremony in Damaturu, Dr. Ibrahim Yabani, the Chairman of YOSIEC, addressed the newly sworn-in council leaders. He emphasized the critical need for them to transition their focus from political campaigns to the practicalities of governance and ensuring effective service delivery to their constituents. "The campaign season is over now. It is time to focus on governance, service delivery and the progress of Yobe State," Dr. Yabani stated.

He further encouraged the chairmen to build upon any existing achievements, continuously strive for excellence, and initiate more impactful development projects that directly benefit people at the grassroots level. Dr. Yabani also urged them to honor the trust placed in them by their communities through promoting inclusive governance and actively working to improve the welfare of those they represent. He reiterated, "your communities placed their trust in you; you must reciprocate this honour by redoubling your efforts, initiating impactful grassroots projects and promoting inclusive governance in the new administration." The YOSIEC chairman also underscored the importance of continuous improvement, challenging even well-performing councils to aim for even greater accomplishments.

Dr. Yabani attributed the smooth execution of the elections to the crucial support from the state government and specifically highlighted Governor Mai Mala Buni’s principled stance of non-interference in the electoral process. He remarked, "We highly commend the state government for providing the critical financial support necessary for the conduct of this exercise and, most importantly, for maintaining strict policy of non-interference."

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Yabani revealed that YOSIEC had received two distinct awards from the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and the Visiting Journalists Association. These accolades recognized the commission's exemplary leadership, performance, and overall achievements in election administration. "I dedicate these awards to the entire YOSIEC team; they represent a victory for our collective integrity," he proudly declared.