By Onuminya Innocent
The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Sokoto State has decided to boycott the local government election slated for March 27, 2021.
The Chairman of the party in the state, Hon Isa Sadiq Acida, said the party withdrawal was predicated on lack of confidence in the process.
Acida stated this while addressing a press conference at the party secretariat in the state yesterday.
The chairman further disclosed that the party took the position having lost confidence in the process leading to the election by the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).
The APC added that the composition of the SIEC members does not follow due process, alleging that some of the members were card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while others are cohorts of the leadership of the government in the state.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman, Sadiq Isah Achida, told reporters at the party’s secretariat the decision was based on wide consultations with stakeholders following lack of confidence in the composition of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).
“Our position is due to the glaring fact that members of the State Independent Electoral Commission are all card carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) who are always dancing to its tunes ,” he alleged.
Achida added that the commission had refused to arrange consultative meetings with political parties before fixing the time for the election.
The chairman also alleged that local government areas were bastardized and starved of fund by the current administration in the state.
“In the light of these circumstances and after due consultations with all stakeholders of our party in the State , the Sokoto State Chapter of the APC has resolved not to participate in the forthcoming local governments elections.
As the National Assembly resumes plenary session and debate on the Electoral Act, the Labour Party (LP) has urged the Assembly to ensure full autonomy for local government councils, as well as the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).
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The National Assembly has said the new Electoral Bill was ready and would be passed upon resumption for plenary.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo Agege, made the disclosure when the Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters received a draft copy of the report submitted by a technical panel.
Checks revealed that the Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters is expected to adopt a final document this weekend for presentation to both chambers for consideration and approval.
Giving an insight into the new Bill, the senator representing Delta Central revealed that while not usurping the functions of the State Independent Electoral Commission, the proposed Bill, which seeks to repeal the Electoral Act, 2010 made the use of card reader mandatory as done in conduct of elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission.