PDP EXPRESSES DISMAY OVER DELAY IN ANNOUNCEMENT OF LG POLLS; Says Situation Worrisome

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Kaduna state chapter has expressed its dismay following the failure of the Kaduna state Independent Electoral Commission, KADSIECOM to announce the results of the just concluded Local Government Council elections in the state.

Speaking with NAIJ NEWS ALERT at the party’s secretariat in Kaduna, the state Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu Wusono expressed the concerns of his party and stakeholders, stating that, “it is worrisome that, up till now, the local government elections results have not been announced”.

He stressed that, the distance between the metropolitan local government and the polling units is a distance which you can trek to and therefore, wondered why they will say that they are still collating the results.

“Chikun is also part of the metropolitan local government; are still collating the result? Kajuru is also like that and, this is four days after elections, they are still collating the results while the Returning Officers are said to have disappeared. Why? He asked.

“That is why we are showing our dismay over the disappearance all the Returning Officers particularly, in the majority of the local governments where the elections were conducted”.

Reminded that the responsibility of announcing results of elections rest with SIECOM, at the completion of the exercise, Ibrahim Wusono stressed that, “like we said, all the results are being gathered in one place and we have it. Because officially, the ad-hoc staff that went and conducted the elections, reported back. The Collation Officer, who is supposed to announce the result, is missing. So, what can you say?

“SIECOM is supposed to instantly, nominate another person that will go and announce the result. In four days, nothing has been announced or anybody nominated by SIECOM. What do you mean and what do you want us to? It makes us suspicious because, all these areas; with the results on ground, shows that the PDP won those elections”.

“It is because the PDP won in those elections that the Returning Officers disappeared. Are working for the government or for APC or working for the general interest of the public? Wusono asked.

On the next move by the PDP, the State Secretary disclosed that what they are doing now is “to highlight and enlighten the people of the state to know what is at hand now”.

“Next, is for the people of those areas to remain in the premises of the Collation Centres until the results is announced because, by rule, no result can be announced anywhere except where the election has been conducted”, Wusono said.