The Peoples Democratic Party has pulled out from the August 31 Kebbi State local government council election.
Chairman of the PDP in the state, Alhaji Bello Usman Suru, confirmed the position of the party at a press conference in Birnin Kebbi.
He said: “You will recall that during the last PDP stakeholders meeting, we agreed to participate in the forthcoming Local Government Council elections given the circumstances of the time but as things continue to unfold: having made a wider consultation with some segments of the party membership and prominent elders, it becomes pertinent to inform you that the party is no longer participating in the local government councils election slated for August 3, 2024 due to the following reasons:
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“The Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission and All the commissioners are card carrying members of APC in Kebbi State. Therefore, organising a free, fair and credible elections will be a mirage. We voiced our discomfort with their appointments in several communications to the Kebbi State Government and relevant agencies involved in elections management in the State. PDP, therefore, doesn’t have any confidence in the leadership of the state Independent Electoral Commission to conduct the elections freely.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been conducting elections in various offices since its establishment without charging anything (financially) from candidates or political parties. Therefore, that the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission (KISEC) creates administrative fees in respect of chairmanship, vice chairmanship and councillorship as prescribed in the elections guidelines did not only disenfranchise some candidates but also grossly violets freedom of choice for candidates, political Parties and the electorate.
“The released election guidelines specified that the administrative fees can be paid up to August 30, 2024 but were abruptly shifted backward to August 7, 2024 This amounts to changing the rules in the middle of the game and a clear attempt to discourage opposition parties from participating in the elections.
“It is against this background that PDP wishes to inform its teeming number of supporters statewide that our participation in the elections will only signify acceptance of illegality, fraudulent system, and stage-managed elections as done in the previous exercise conducted in 2022 under the same leadership.”
He appealed to party members across the 21 LGAs to remain calm and focused as they continue to reflect on the present and prospects of our great Party at Local, State, and National levels.
