The Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission has responded to claims by the All Progressives Congress that it was excluded from the upcoming local government elections. In a statement, the commission clarified that the APC had deliberately boycotted the electoral process and was now attempting to mislead the public.

According to the commission, the sale of nomination forms for the election took place from September 8 to 17, and the screening of candidates was scheduled from September 23 to 30, 2025. The APC had initially rejected the sale of forms, demanding that they be issued for free, and even threatened legal action against the commission.

The commission revealed that the APC failed to participate in any further activities outlined in the electoral calendar after this dispute. However, on September 26, 2025, the State Secretary of the APC, Mr. Fidelis, appeared at the commission’s office with files containing the list of his party’s candidates for the election. This move was seen as surprising, given that the APC had not purchased any nomination forms, a requirement stipulated by the Taraba Appropriation Law 2025.

The law mandates the commission to generate a minimum of N50 million from the sale of forms and remit it to the state government. The commission expressed concern that the APC’s actions appeared to be an attempt to create public disaffection and falsely claim exclusion from the electoral process.

The commission stated that the APC’s claim of being “edged out” of the election was false and intended to stir unnecessary controversy. It emphasized that the APC had no intention of participating in the election, having neither purchased forms nor allowed interested members to do so. The commission’s announcement comes as the local government elections approach, and the controversy surrounding the APC’s participation continues to unfold.

The developments in Taraba State highlight the importance of transparency and adherence to electoral laws in ensuring the credibility of the electoral process. As the elections draw near, the commission’s efforts to clarify the situation and provide context to the APC’s claims aim to reassure the public of the integrity of the process. The situation will likely continue to be closely watched, with the commission’s next steps and the outcome of the elections being of great interest to stakeholders and observers alike.