By Haruna Usman- Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi state chairman of the African Democratic Party, ADP, Alhaji Ayyuba Yahya, has confirmed fielding candidates for the forthcoming local councils polls in Kebbi state.
The state party chief made this known in Birnin Kebbi at the party’s secretariat on Friday, according to him, the party is ready to participate in the August 2024, local councils elections in the state.
He noted that, though they have fielded candidates for chairmanship and councillorship, but paucity of funds and high administrative charges by the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission, KSIEC, has made it impossible for his party to field candidates in the 21 local governments councils.
“We were only able to field candidates who can afford the nomination forms he said”.
Yahya added that, the party has already began aggressive campaigns in all the places they fielded candidates and are optimistic of winning some seats during the elections.
On the credibility of the elections, he said the state electoral body has assured them that whoever wins would be declared winner so they are taking them by their words hence the reason they fielded candidates and had commenced campaigns to woo voters.
“We hope they mean their words but we are still calling on them to be neutral to ensure free, fair and acceptable polls in the state”.
Recall that the main opposition party in the state the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had earlier withdrew from the race raising concerns over alleged partisanship of some key members of KSIEC and exorbitant administrative charges.
However, it remains to be seen whether or not the electoral umpire would go down in history to produce best local councils polls in Kebbi.
