PDP boycotts Ekiti LG poll, leaving APC, five others to contest
The Peoples Democratic Party has boycotted the December 4 Ekiti local government election as six political parties, leaving just six political parties to participate.
Jide Aladejana, the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) chairman, disclosed this to journalists in Ado-Ekiti.
Mr Aladejana assured that the election would be free, fair and credible.
He said no politician would be allowed to hijack and manipulate the outcome of the elections.
“Let me use this opportunity to assure the electorate that the commission will conduct a free, fair and credible poll that will meet the yearnings of all participating parties in the state,” he said.
He named the political parties as taking part in the election as Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), National Reduce Movement (NRM), and Young Progressives Party (YPP).
He added that the election would hold in the 16 statutory local government areas and the 19 local council development areas across the 2,195 polling units.
“We are going to make the election free, fair, and credible. This is our target, and nothing can stop us. We won’t allow anyone to manipulate the process. We are going to be as transparent as possible by monitoring the process and ensure that the votes of the people count,” he said.
The SIEC chairman stated that sensitive materials for the election would be made public on the eve of the election to avoid manipulations.
He added that the main opposition party, the PDP’s plan to boycott the poll, would not vitiate the process.
“All of us are participants in the electoral system, but the only difference is that the political parties must sponsor candidates. We are ready for the election. We have trained our ad hoc staff and the electoral officers in the 16 LGAs and 19 LCDAs,” stated the official. “We will work with security agencies to caution those who may wish to disrupt the conduct of the election.”
Speaking on its planned boycott, PDP spokesman in Ekiti Raphael Adeyanju said the party did not have confidence in INEC to conduct a free, fair, and credible poll.
He said the national secretariat approved the decision of the party.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
Nigeria positioned to power clean energy Future: Tinubu
Mr Tinubu expressed his firm commitment to improve the developmental partnership between the European Union and Nigeria.
Africa
Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone roll out malaria vaccines
With the announcement on World Malaria Day, the number of African countries incorporating the vaccines into their childhood immunisation programmes increased to eight.
NationWide
Group urges FG to decongest custodial centres after Suleja jailbreak
”We also call on the public to pay more attention to issues concerning corrections in Nigeria.”
Politics
PDP unveils 200-member campaign council for Edo 2024 guber election
The advisory council has seven eminent members of the state.
Africa
ECOWAS moves to tackle drug abuse in Sierra Leone, other countries
ECOWAS said the workshop was also to support efforts to tackle drug abuse and provide resources and strategies for member states, particularly Sierra Leone.
Lagos
FG to resume resurfacing of Third Mainland Bridge: Official
She said that the exact dates for the renewed construction would be announced soon.