PDP Rejects Kano LG Polls, Says Process Undemocratic

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has rejected the result of the just concluded local government elections, describing it as undemocratic.

Alhaji Yusuf Kibiya, the newly elected chairman of the party, disclosed this while addressing a media briefing at the NUJ press centre in Kano yesterday.

He said: “The procedures used by the state electoral body were designed to undermine democracy. This isn’t the first time concerns about undemocratic practices have been raised in Kano State local government elections.” The PDP chairman cited the payment of nomination form fees of N10 million for chairmanship slot and N5 million for councillorship position as among the several prohibitive conditions introduced by the state Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) ahead of the elections.

Given the undemocratic conditions, the chairman said it would have amounted to a waste of time for the party to partake in the polls.

Recall that the KANSEIC had announced that the ruling NNPP in the state won in all the 44 chairmanship positions and all the 484 councillorship seats in the just concluded local government elections

On the vision of the party’s new leadership for the state, the chairman said the PDP articulated a 10-year development programme to address the needs and aspirations of the people of the state.

Kibiya further explained that the party would engage professionals from various fields in particular, and the entire people of the state in general.

He said: “This plan will be a crucial part of our party’s development programme, and every aspiring candidate for governorship and all other aspiring candidates must commit to its implementation after being elected.

“Your ideas, participation, and advocacy are essential as we strive for excellence and true service to our people. Let us work hand-in-hand to create a government that is responsive, transparent, and accountable.”