ADC, PDP shun Edo LG polls, 12 parties participate
ADC, PDP shun Edo LG polls, 12 parties participate
The African Democratic Congress and Peoples Democratic Party, will not participate in Saturday’s local government election in Edo State, Saturday PUNCH can report.
This was as 12 political parties have concluded arrangements to participates in the exercise.
The parties are the ruling All Progressives Congress, Young Progressives Party, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Zenith Labour Party, Accord Party, African Action Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, Action Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party, National Rescue Movement and Action Peoples Party.
Electorates in the state are expected to elect councillors and chairmen in the 192 wards and 18 local government areas.
The elections will be held in over 4,000 polling units across the state.
Speaking with our correspondent on Friday, the state Chairman of the ADC, Tony Alile, confirmed that his party would not participate in the election.
“Yes, we are not participating in the local government election on Saturday,” he said.
Pressed for the reason behind the decision, Alile asked the reporter to contact the party spokesperson.
However, efforts to reach the spokesperson, Chris Ojeikere, were unsuccessful as his telephone line was busy.
A chieftain of the PDP who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, also confirmed that the party would not participate.
The party leader said the PDP was not ready for the election because it had only recently resolved issues affecting it at the national and state levels.
“There is no need fielding candidates for this election as we have just resolved issues affecting the party, while those vying for position in the general election just got their nomination form and got their names uploaded on the Independent National Electoral Commission website.
“However, we will be ready for subsequent national and state elections,” the source added.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Vice Chairman of the APC in Edo State and Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Sylvester Aigboboh, said the election would give the people the opportunity to reaffirm their confidence in the leadership of the APC and the developmental vision of the governor of the state, Monday Okpebholo.
Aigboboh urged APC members and supporters to ensure massive mobilisation of voters to polling units.
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, had earlier announced a restriction of movement across the state from 12:00 midnight to 3 pm.
He said the restriction was aimed at ensuring the peaceful, orderly and secure conduct of the local government council elections.
Agbonika said all vehicular and human movement within the state would be prohibited during the period, except for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, accredited election observers, duly accredited media personnel, security agencies, emergency and other essential service providers on election duty.
The Chairman of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, Johnson Aifuobhokhan, said 10,000 ad hoc staff had been recruited and trained for the polls.
Aifuobhokhan said all the recruited personnel possessed the competence and professionalism required for the successful conduct of the election.
He added that all sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials had been produced, inspected, sorted, packaged and would be distributed according to established operational procedures.
“Election materials will be allocated to all Local Government Offices of the Commission and have been properly arranged according to Wards and Polling Units for seamless deployment.
“Distribution schedules have been carefully developed to ensure timely delivery of materials to every Polling Unit before the commencement of accreditation and voting.
“Our logistics are ready. Our transportation arrangements are complete. Election personnel have been adequately trained. Electoral materials have been deployed. Security coordination has been concluded. Communication systems are operational,” he said.
