The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Kebbi, has withdrawn from participation in the forthcoming Local Government Council elections.

The Chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Bello Usman-Suru, made this known while briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.

He alleged that the Chairman and all the commissioners of the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission are card-carrying members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state, which he claimed has given the APC candidates an undue advantage.

“You will recall that during the last PDP stakeholders’ meeting, we agreed to participate in the forthcoming Local Government council elections given the circumstances of the time. However, as things have continued to unfold, and after wider consultation with various segments of the party membership and prominent elders, it has become necessary to inform you that the party is no longer participating in the Local Government Council elections scheduled for 31 August 2024 due to the following reasons.

“The Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission and all the commissioners are card-carrying members of the APC in Kebbi State. Therefore, organising free, fair, and credible elections will be a mirage.

“We have expressed our concerns regarding their appointments in several communications to the Kebbi State Government and relevant agencies involved in election management in the state,” Suru said.

He stated that the PDP therefore “does not have any confidence in the leadership of the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct the elections freely.”

The party also alleged that the electoral body requires participants to make payments, which it argued is contrary to election participation norms in Nigeria.

He added, “The Independent National Electoral Commission has been conducting elections for various offices since its establishment without charging any fees from candidates or political parties.