From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
The All Progressives Congress(APC) Kebbi State chapter, has noted that the outcome of the local government elections has further sunk the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, as well as narrow their chances of winning in the 2027 general elections.
The state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Issa Asalafi, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the large turnout of voters during the poll, coupled with the state governor’s achievements, have continued to be a torn on the flesh of the PDP, which had presumed that voters would not come out.
“As you know, somebody who doesn’t participate in an election has no moral standard to condemn an election adjudged by observers as free and fair. Initially, the PDP has been given an opportunity to participate in the election right from day one and it really participated in the processes of election initially.
“They fully involved and engaged IPAC in the processes. After a while, we just heard that they have withdrawn a few days to the election. We asked for the reasons, they told us the fees were too much and they were not given a level playing ground. And the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission (KESIEC) has been fair to all the parties. Between me and God, we in the APC even accused KESIEC of giving PDP special consideration at the time they extended the time of collection and return of the nomination forms because of the PDP. We were not happy but they told us that they wanted to give all the parties fair hearing.
You can’t say you are stopping the submissions of the forms a day to the election, but they gave the PDP two weeks’ grace before election. Upon all these advantages, they still withdrew. They withdrew because of the fact that they knew they would be defeated because we are having good leadership in the state. The Governor, Dr Nasir Idris has been doing a lot in terms of infrastructure development in the state and this is making the PDP to be afraid that if they contested against the APC, they would be beaten mercilessly because the voters would not vote for them.
“We are not surprised also if you consider the cost of the nomination forms prescribed by the KESIEC with other states in Nigeria. It is very low because they tendered justice with mercy.
For example, in Kano State, where the NNPP is the ruling party, they put N5 million for chairmanship nomination form and N2 million for councilorship nomination form. In Taraba State, chairmanship is N10 million and the councilorship is N5 million, while the vice chairmanship is N8 million. In Jigawa State, chairmanship is N5 million, vice chairmanship N2 million and councilorship is N1 million.
“In Kebbi State, chairmanship is N500,000, vice chairmanship is N300,000 and councilorship is N200,000. So, KESIEC is fair to all of us. But, we know that they are jealous because of the growth and development they are witnessing in the state. So, the PDP does not have the moral right to say anything in the election. They were given all the opportunities to participate but they withdrew from the contest a few days to the election.”
Speaking on the turnout of voters, Asalafi noted that PDP had really goofed on the allegation that there was low turnout, when voters actually came out despite the early morning rain on the election day.
“We have both domestic and international observers and they all adjudged that the large turnout of voters was very encouraging, impressive and unprecedented in the history of local government elections in the state. Despite the fact that the PDP had withdrawn, our voters came out to show solidarity because of our Governor. The outcome of the election has spoken for us and they are there for the people to see.
“Kebbi State people have opened their eyes; they have seen the difference between the bad and the good. We have seen it all because our Governor is changing the narrative in our state. Within one year and three months in office, development under this Governor is unprecedented and in 2027, it will be a game over. PDP will be defeated and finally kicked out of the state,” he said.
The party in a statement by its state secretary, Abubakar Bawa Kalgo, claimed that the party would take over from the ruling party in the 2027 general elections and urged the people to remain focused.
He also alleged that there was a poor turnout of voters during the council election. He stressed that it was an indication that the voters would reject the APC in the 2027 general elections.
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