Why we’re boycotting Nasarawa LG polls – PDP

The leading opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State has disclosed that it won’t participate in the November 2, 2024 local government elections in the state because of high cost of expression of interest and nomination forms as well as lack of trust in the electoral body.

The decision was reached at the party’s State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held in Lafia, the state capital, at the weekend.

In a communique issued after the meeting, the PDP listed several reasons for its withdrawal from the elections including lack of trust in the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) and the APC.

The communique reads in part, “The NASIEC did not give the opposition parties substantial reasons to build confidence in the credibility and fairness of the election.

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“The whooping sum of N1.5 million as the cost of candidate registration is a clear indication that the APC-led government is insensitive to the economic struggles of the people. This fee essentially bars the common man from participating in the election.”

Another concern raised by the party was the failure of the government to amend the electoral bill to allow election results for councilor positions to be announced at the ward level and those for chairmanship positions at the local government headquarters.

“Since the state government has not amended the bill, it means that it will be business as usual for the APC to ambush other political parties with electoral frauds,” the opposition party added.