KESIEC Chairman, Members Are Card-Carrying Members Of APC, We Won’t Participate In Upcoming  LG Elections-Kebbi PDP

Kebbi state  PDP has declared that the party will no longer participate in the local government elections  scheduled to hold in the state on August 31, 2024 .

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the state PDP  chairman, Bello Suru,  who disclosed this in a  statement he issued  on Thursday,  alleged that the Chairman  of Kebbi state Independent Electoral Commission and all the commissioners  are card-carrying members of APC.

 ‘You will recall that during the last PDP stakeholder meeting, we agreed to participate in the forthcoming Local Government  elections given the circumstances of the time. However, as things have continued to unfold, and after wider consultation with various segments of the party membership and prominent elders, it has become necessary to inform you that the party is no longer participating in the Local Government elections scheduled  to hold on 31 August, 2024 due to the following reasons:

The Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission and all the commissioners are card-carrying members of the APC in Kebbi state. Therefore, organizing free, fair, and credible elections will be a mirage.

We have expressed our concerns regarding their appointment in several communications to the Kebbi state Government and relevant agencies involved in election management in the state’ Suru said.

He noted that the PDP therefore ‘does not have any confidence in those who are the leaders of  the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct the elections freely’.

‘The Independent National Electoral Commission has been conducting elections for various offices since its establishment without charging any fees from candidates or political parties.

The Kebbi state Independent Electoral Commission has introduced administrative fees for chairmanship, vice-chairmanship, and councillorship positions as prescribed in the election guidelines which have not only disenfranchised  some candidates but also grossly violated the freedom of choice for candidates, political parties, and the electorate’ he added.

Suru urged  party members in  the 21 LGAs in 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 also noted that the  PDP  hopes that  INEC will soon take over the conduct and management of Local Government  elections to ensure free, fair, credible, and acceptable elections.

 Publicity Secretary of the state APC, Mr Isa Asalafi,  has however described  the allegations against the chairman  of  Kebbi state Independent Electoral Commission (KESIEC) and his commissioners   as lies  that cannot be substantiated.

‘They have only announced their withdrawal when they realized that the majority of their members have 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’ he said.

 ‘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’  spokesman for KISEC, Hassan Yauri,  also submitted-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you