Kaduna State Assembly Denies Manipulating Local Government Elections

The Kaduna State Assembly has strongly denied allegations of planning to manipulate the outcome of the forthcoming Local Government elections, set to take place on October 19. The denial comes after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the Assembly of planning a meeting with top government officials to manipulate the polls.

Henry Marah, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, dismissed the allegations at a press briefing in Kaduna, stating that the Speaker, Dahiru Liman, attended an official visit, not a meeting to manipulate the elections. Marah emphasized that the Assembly has a duty to ensure its constituents receive maximum benefits, which involves visiting various offices and supervising ministries.

He also refuted allegations that the Assembly plans to amend the State Independent Electoral Commission Law (SIECOM), assuring that the amendment made in July was necessary due to the short notice for the elections and the creation of more polling units.

The Chairman urged the public, particularly politicians involved in the upcoming LG elections, to disregard such allegations and focus on their campaigns, emphasizing that the elections will be free and fair. He also reassured that the Assembly will protect the people’s interest and ensure they receive the best possible outcome.

The PDP had accused the Assembly of planning to hijack the appointment of Ward and LG Returning/Collation Officers for the elections, with its state Chairman, Edward Masha, alleging that some top officials were likely to be involved in manipulating the outcome of the exercise.

The development has sparked concerns about the smooth conduct of the upcoming elections, with many calling for transparency and accountability from all stakeholders. As the elections draw near, citizens are eager to see whether the allegations will be proven baseless or if there is some truth to them.