The New Nigerian People’s Party says it will not take part in the forthcoming local government elections in Katsina, scheduled for February 15.

The state secretary of the party, Tijjani Zakari-Kafinsoli, confirmed this in an interview in Katsina on Tuesday.

According to him, the amount set for purchasing nomination forms by the state’s Independent Electoral Commission was too high, making it unaffordable for the party.

He explained, “The KTSIEC has fixed ₦3 million for chairmanship candidates and ₦1 million for Councillorship candidates. We have 34 local government areas and 361 wards in the state, meaning the total cost for forms would be about ₦463 million.

“As a party for the masses, we cannot afford such an amount. We wrote to KTSIEC in April 2024 to complain. But we have not received a response.”

He added that the Social Democratic Party in the state had taken the electoral body to court over the same issue.

On August 31,  2024, NNPP expressed confidence in winning Chairmanship and Councillorship positions in the local government elections.

Addressing journalists in Katsina on Tuesday, KTSIEC chairman, Lawal Faskari, said only five political parties would participate in the election.

These include the Accord Party, Booth Party, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, and the All Progressives Congress.

The Peoples Democratic Party and 11 other registered parties will also not be taking part in the election.

According to Faskari, all arrangements have been finalised to ensure the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

(NAN)