SDP withdraws from Bauchi LG polls, cite credibility concerns

Barely one week into the conduct of the Local Government Council elections in Bauchi, the State chapter of the Social Democratic Party, SDP has announced its decision to withdraw from the elections, citing concerns over the credibility of the process.

The party also called for the scrapping of the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission, BASIEC.

The party members made their stance on the upcoming council election known in Bauchi on Friday at a press conference.

The State Secretary of the Party, Comrade Nasir DanBauchi, alleged that the BASIEC will execute the bidding of the Bauchi State government to conduct a kangaroo and a discredited election.

“We sensed that the so-called election will be more of a charade, than an election, because in all intent, and purpose, the State Independent Electoral Commission, (BASIEC), the agency with the statutory responsibility of conducting the election, will execute the bidding of the Bauchi State government to conduct a kangaroo and a discredited election.”

“SDP can confirm very authoritatively that the State Independent Electoral Commission from day one has sealed plans to alienate some political parties from participating in the electoral process and has already perfected the aforesaid plans,” he said.

Nasir DanBauchi further alleged that the strategy involves marginalizing or excluding perceived strong opposition parties to legitimise the process and enable the government to install preferred candidates as Chairmen and Councilors for the Local Government Councils.

“This scheme is clearly designed to allow the government to use these imposed puppets to further their corrupt exploitation of Local Government funds, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling,” he alleged.

“This is not only unconstitutional and immoral but also an open invitation to lawlessness and impunity, which must be opposed by everyone.

He pointed out that “Section 18 of the State Electoral Law 2008 clearly states: ‘The conduct of elections in local government councils in the state shall be under the direction, organization, and supervision of the Commission and in accordance with the provisions of this Law, Regulations, Guidelines, rules and Manuals issued or made by the Commission.’”

DanBauchi stated that BASIEC’s approach to the upcoming Local Government elections has blatantly violated the State Electoral Law and its guidelines.

“For example, in the August 2024 Schedule of Activities for the election, which the SDP reviewed, BASIEC had scheduled the ‘issuance of Notice of Local Government Council Election to Political Parties and the general public’ for June 7, 2024,” he added.

He lamented, “However, as of this moment, BASIEC has not issued our party, the SDP, any notice or related documents concerning this planned election, aside from the election timetable. Our attempts to obtain the necessary documents from BASIEC have been unsuccessful.”

“Also, our findings revealed that some selected political parties of which may perhaps participate in this very election may have been induced to partake in the contest to give the process an assumed credibility they needed.”

The party demanded that the Commission “must halt, forthwith the process of the election and restart so that there will be justice, fairness, equity and level playing ground, for all parts without any encumbrances, and all nomination Forms be sold at a fee not exceeding N100,000 only.

SDP withdraws from Bauchi LG polls, cite credibility concerns