As Kebbi State residents put together for the upcoming Local Government elections, the primary opposition get together within the state, the Peoples Democratic Party, has withdrawn its participation from the election.
The state get together chairman, Bello Suru, introduced this in a press assertion made accessible to journalists on Thursday.
He alleged that the Chairman and all of the commissioners of the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission are card-carrying members of the ruling All Progressives Congress within the state, which he claimed has given the APC candidates an undue benefit.
“You will recall that over the past PDP stakeholders’ assembly, we agreed to take part within the forthcoming Local Government council elections given the circumstances of the time. However, as issues have continued to unfold, and after wider session with varied segments of the get together membership and distinguished elders, it has develop into vital to tell you that the get together is not collaborating within the Local Government Council elections scheduled for 31 August 2024 because of the following causes:
“The Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission and all the commissioners are card-carrying members of the APC in Kebbi State. Therefore, organising free, fair, and credible elections will be a mirage.
“We have expressed our concerns regarding their appointments in several communications to the Kebbi State Government and relevant agencies involved in election management in the state,” Suru mentioned.
He said that the PDP subsequently “does not have any confidence in the leadership of the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct the elections freely.”
The get together additionally alleged that the electoral physique requires members to make funds, which it argued is opposite to election participation norms in Nigeria.
He added, “The Independent National Electoral Commission has been conducting elections for varied places of work since its institution with out charging any charges from candidates or political events.
“The Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission has introduced administrative fees for chairmanship, vice-chairmanship, and councillorship positions as prescribed in the election guidelines,” which he mentioned, “not only disenfranchises some candidates but also grossly violates the freedom of choice for candidates, political parties, and the electorate.”
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The PDP state chairman appealed to all get together members throughout the 21 LGAs of the state to “remain calm and focused as we continue to reflect on the present and future of our great party at local, state, and national levels.”
He famous that the get together hopes INEC will “soon take over the conduct and management of Local Government council elections to ensure free, fair, credible, and acceptable elections.”
In response to the allegations, the APC Publicity Secretary within the state, Isa Asalafi, mentioned the allegations towards the chairman and commissioners of the state electoral fee had been lies and couldn’t be substantiated.
He claimed that the PDP withdrew from the election out of concern of potential defeat, stating, “They solely introduced their withdrawal after they realised that almost all of their members had defected to the APC.
“I am sure you are aware that four of their lawmakers in the state House of Assembly recently announced their defection.”
Also talking, the spokesman for KISEC, Hassan Yauri, denied that any member of the fee was affiliated with any political get together.
“The chairman of the commission has issued a statement denying the PDP’s allegations. It is unfortunate that rather than focusing their energy on the polls, the PDP has chosen to make claims about events that never occurred,” he mentioned.