Kaduna Local Government Elections: PDP Chairman Denies Calls for Boycott Amid Allegations of Electoral Fraud

Edward Masha, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, has denounced rumors that he urged party supporters to boycott the local government elections scheduled to take place in all 23 local government areas of the state. Speaking in an interview with journalists in Kafanchan, the headquarters of Jema’a Local Government Area, Masha emphasized that neither he nor his office made or endorsed the call for a boycott.

According to Masha, the PDP’s agents at the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECOM) office discovered that one of the most critical election materials, the result sheets, was missing during their inspection of sensitive materials. This anomaly has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

Masha recalled that two weeks ago, he had raised the alarm over plans by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the elections by introducing a clause into the SIECOM election guidelines that would alter the process of announcing election results. He reiterated that his party will insist on the inclusion of all sensitive materials to ensure a level playing field.

The PDP chairman expressed concerns that the alleged display of electoral fraud by the ruling party suggests that democracy is under attack in Kaduna State. He urged all PDP members to exercise their right to vote en masse and avoid any actions that could breach the peace.

As the elections commenced, the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission office was locked, leaving ad-hoc staff uncertain about their roles. Despite the challenges, Masha’s call to PDP supporters to participate in the elections underscores the importance of democratic participation in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The Kaduna State local government elections are a crucial test of the country’s democratic systems, and the events unfolding in the state are being closely watched by the international community. The outcome of these elections will have significant implications for the future of democracy in Nigeria, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.