The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has declared its readiness for the local council polls fixed for September 21, 2024, in the state by the Independent State Electoral Commission, KWASIEC.
The main opposition party in the state, stated this in a statement by its spokesman, Olusegun Olushola Adewara, in Ilorin on Saturday, at the end of a general meeting held with the political parties in the councils’ polls with the state electoral commission, in Ilorin, the state capital.
PDP was ably represented by the state chairman, Babatunde Mohammed, and the state party secretary, Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode.
According to him: “The PDP is pleased to declare that our party is fully prepared for the upcoming elections. Consequently, we have not requested any adjustments to the election timetable previously released by KWASIEC.
“Our commitment to a transparent and timely electoral process remains steadfast, and we are confident in our readiness to participate under the current schedule.”
On the price tags of the nomination forms, PDP in solid agreement with suggestions from other parties submitted that the fees attached to nomination forms must be affordable to all prospective aspirants for both councilorship and chairmanship elections.
Consequently, the PDP proposed that the nomination forms for councilorship should not exceed N50,000, while that of chairmanship must not exceed N200,000.
Efforts to reach the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Aro Folaranmi, on Saturday, proved abortive as several calls put across to his phone were not responded to, but DAILY POST gathered that the ruling APC fixed nomination forms for chairmanship and councilorship positions at N100,000 and N25,000 respectively.
Females and persons with physical challenges, will, however, obtain the forms free, just as there are plans for a consensus arrangement in the party for the local councils’ polls.
PDP urged KWASIEC to maintain its independence and ensure a fair and transparent electoral process noting that Okanla-led KWASIEC must go the extra mile to prove that the commission will not be teleguided by the ruling APC.
“The integrity of our democratic processes is paramount, and any actions that compromise this integrity must be addressed with the utmost seriousness,” a PDP statement noted.