PDP Boycotts Borno Local Elections Over Lack of Trust

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State, Nigeria, has announced its withdrawal from the local government elections scheduled for December 13. The decision was taken after a meeting of the party’s State Executive Committee (SEC) in Maiduguri, where members raised concerns about the electoral process. According to the party’s Publicity Secretary, Amos Adziba, the boycott stems primarily from a lack of confidence in the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC) and the high costs associated with participating in the elections.

The PDP criticized BOSIEC for failing to provide adequate assurances of the elections’ credibility and fairness. It also condemned the steep fees for expression of interest and nomination forms, describing them as excessive and insensitive to the country’s prevailing economic challenges. Additionally, the party highlighted the government’s failure to amend the electoral bill, which would permit the declaration of councilor results at the ward level and chairmanship results at local government headquarters.

As the leading opposition party in Borno State, the PDP’s withdrawal is significant and could affect the outcome of the elections, which are only days away. BOSIEC has not yet responded to the party’s allegations, leaving it unclear how the electoral body will address these concerns. The local government elections are a crucial component of Nigeria’s democratic process, and the PDP’s boycott raises questions about their legitimacy.

The party’s decision may also have broader implications for the state’s political landscape, particularly in relation to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). With the elections imminent, scrutiny of the electoral process and BOSIEC’s actions is expected to intensify. The PDP’s withdrawal underscores the need for greater transparency and fairness, and observers will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds in the coming days.