By: Abdulwahab Isa
In a shocking revelation, the Kaduna State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Edward Marsha, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the local government electoral law to rig the upcoming election.
“We shouted and raised a red flag for the local government election… where we noticed a deliberate attempt to maneuver the process that is meant to be free and fair as enshrined by the law,” Marsha said during a press conference at the Nigerian Union of Journalists Secretariat.
The Alleged Manipulation
Marsha specifically pointed out that the section of the law requiring chairmanship and councilorship results to be announced at polling units and ward collation centers has been removed. Instead, the chairperson of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECOM) will now have the sole authority to announce results from the headquarters or designate an area of their choice.
“This is unacceptable,” Marsha emphasized. “The results after polls are to be announced first at the polling units by the presiding officer… then polling units would assemble with their results at the ward collation centers, which the ward returning officer will collate the results and announce the winners.”
Consequences of Manipulation
Marsha warned that any manipulation of the electoral law would deny citizens their legitimate rights. “If you deny people the right to choose their leaders at the local government level, you deny them everything… We will not accept this gross manipulation and distortion; we will challenge it through the right channels.”
A Call to Action
Marsha urged stakeholders, including Kaduna State House of Assembly members, to resist this alleged manipulation and stand up for democracy. “Let us come out and resist this planned manipulation by the APC… It’s undemocratic, unpatriotic, and a violation of the tenets of democracy.”
Impeachment Call
Marsha demanded the impeachment and removal of those involved in altering the law. “We call for the impeachment and removal from office of all those that have allegedly worked together to change the law… meant to favor the All Progressive Party.”
The PDP chairman’s allegations have raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. Will the people of Kaduna be able to exercise their democratic rights, or will the alleged manipulation silence their voices? The nation watches with bated breath.
“We will not allow this to stand,” Marsha vowed. “The people of Kaduna deserve free and fair elections.”
Middle-Belt Times 