LG ballot: Not our enterprise to compel participation, Borno electoral physique tells PDP

The Borno State Impartial Electoral Fee has dismissed issues over the withdrawal of the Peoples Democratic Party from Saturday’s native authorities elections, saying it isn’t the fee’s “enterprise” to compel any political celebration to take part.

Chairman of BOSIEC, Tahir Shettima, acknowledged this on Friday throughout a press briefing in Maiduguri, noting that the fee was working strictly inside constitutional provisions and within the curiosity of the six political events participating within the polls.

His remark adopted a press release issued earlier on Friday by the state PDP spokesperson, Amos Adziba, saying the celebration’s resolution to boycott the election over mistrust within the fee and what it described because the excessive value of expression of curiosity and nomination kinds.

The PDP spokesperson stated the choice was reached at a current State Govt Committee assembly in Maiduguri.

Within the assertion titled, “Why we’re boycotting Borno LG polls,” the PDP alleged that BOSIEC had failed to supply substantial assurances to construct confidence within the credibility and equity of the method.

It learn, “The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State has disclosed that it gained’t take part within the December thirteenth, 2025 native authorities elections within the state due to the excessive value of expression of curiosity and nomination kinds in addition to lack of belief within the electoral physique.”

Condemning the price of kinds, Adziba stated, “PDP alleged that the state electoral physique is unmindful of the tough prevailing financial challenges within the nation by demanding excessive buy of expression of curiosity and nomination kinds.”

He added that the state authorities didn’t amend the electoral invoice to permit councillorship outcomes to be declared at ward degree and chairmanship outcomes at native authorities headquarters.

“Because the state authorities has not amended the invoice, it signifies that it will likely be enterprise as common for the APC to ambush different political events with electoral frauds,” he stated.

BOSIEC’s response

Responding, Shettima stated stakeholders, together with political events, have been consulted earlier than the charges have been decided.

“Fixing of worth is throughout the confine of our powers. We didn’t even repair this worth unilaterally; we’ve got had sequence of engagement with political events the place we arrived at this quantity,” he stated.

“Should you come, we is not going to cease you. If you don’t come, it isn’t our enterprise. Nonetheless, it’s our want to see many gamers and political events coming to play the sport. We now have six events on board taking part. What would you like us to do? Our fingers are tied by guidelines, rules and legislation. We can not power anyone to return and take part.”

Shettima famous that the chairman kinds value N500,000, describing the quantity as cheap in contrast with charges in different states given the inflationary surroundings.

“This alone reveals that we’re accountable and totally conscious of the financial predicament of those that are going to contest and most people,” he stated.

He assured that the fee had concluded preparations for the election.

“We’re ready for the elections tomorrow. We now have skilled the advert hoc employees and our employees, and they’re now of their respective LGAs to make sure clean and credible voting.

“We’re prepared for tomorrow’s elections and hope for credible and clear outcomes,” he added.