PDP Quits Borno LG Polls, Accuses BOSIEC of Bias, Cost Burden

|By Adejumo Adekunle

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State has pulled out of the December 13 local government elections, alleging a compromised process and prohibitive fees imposed by the electoral body.

The party announced its withdrawal on Friday after a State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting in Maiduguri, where members resolved that the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC) had failed to guarantee a credible contest.

Amos Adziba, the PDP Publicity Secretary, said the party lost confidence in BOSIEC due to what it described as weak assurances of transparency and fairness. He stressed that the commission’s “refusal to address fundamental concerns raised by opposition parties” undermined trust in the planned exercise.

Adziba also faulted the “excessive cost” of expression of interest and nomination forms, arguing that BOSIEC ignored the country’s harsh economic climate while setting fees that shut out viable contenders.

The party further criticized the government’s refusal to amend the state electoral law to allow councillor results to be declared at ward level and chairmanship results at local government headquarters — a move it said would have strengthened accountability.

“With no amendments in place, it remains business as usual for the APC to ambush other political parties with electoral fraud,” Adziba stated.

The PDP maintained that under the current conditions, participating in the poll would amount to endorsing a flawed process.