By: Abdulwahab Muhammad
The Kaduna State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concerns over changes to the local government electoral law, alleging manipulation by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Edward Marsha, Kaduna State PDP Chairman, “The state chairperson of SIECOM, the state speaker of the house, and the office of the attorney general are working together to alter the already signed local government electoral law.”
Marsha explained, “The results after polls are to be announced first at the polling units by the presiding officer, where results of each party that participated will be announced. But, in this new law, the chairperson of SIECOM would have sole right and responsibility to announce all results.”
He emphasized, “We will not accept this. We will challenge it through the right channels.”
Marsha stressed the importance of local government elections, saying, “Local government is the bedrock of democracy, due to its closeness to the people. Hence, the need to allow the mandate of the people reign.”
“We have discovered a deliberate attempt to manipulate the electoral process, which is meant to be free and fair,” Marsha added.
The altered law removes the requirement for chairmanship and councilorship results to be announced at polling units and ward collation centers. Instead, the SIECOM chairperson will have sole authority to announce results.
“This is unacceptable,” Marsha said. “When you deny people the right to choose their leaders at the local government level, you deny them their sovereignty.”