We will not participate in Edo LG elections - PDP

macfranc007 March 02, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Nurudeen Lawal

- The PDP in Edo state said it will not participate in the state’s local government election

- The opposition party said it is sure that the election will be nullified by court

- The election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 3

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a statement issued on Thursday, March 1, said it will not take part in local government elections in Edo state scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 3, Premium Times reports.

The spokesperson of the party, Chris Nehikhare, said: “We want to reiterate that PDP is not participating in the sham elections.

“We did not submit any candidate for any of the positions in any of the wards and local government areas in the state.”

NAIJ.com gathered the PDP, which is the main opposition party in the state, said they have gone to court to challenge an “amendment” to the rules guiding the conduct of the elections.

The statement said: “From the onset, we outlined our grievances regarding the composition of EDSIEC, the unconstitutional amendment to the number of days notice required to be given to political parties before elections are held and questioned the competence of the EDSIEC as the antecedent of its chairman stuck out like a sore thumb.

“At this point, we expected EDSIEC and/or EDSG to address these issues raised as they were germane, but instead, they preferred to pay lawyers up to N500 million to keep the case in court.”

Nehikhare said the case has been adjourned to April 11 for the continuation of hearing.

He said the opposition party is convinced the election would eventually be declared null and void by the court, and those elected will be dismissed from office.

The party, therefore, advised its members and supporters not to go out and vote but rather stay at home and rest on the election day.

The statement added: “Our case is strong and justifiable.

“Stay home and rest. If you are a farmer go to the farm. Your time is precious, make good use of it.”

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) meanwhile, had its “mega” rally in Benin City on Thursday, March 1, in preparation for the elections.

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The rally, which was held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, had the national chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, Governor Godwin Obaseki, a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, and the minister of youth and sports, Solomon Dalung, in attendance.

NAIJ.com previously reported that over ten thousand members of the PDP in Edo state including former national chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Felix Akhabue, on Wednesday, February 28, at the mega rally of the APC in the state, defected to the APC in Edo state.

Akhabue popularly known as Joefel and former political foot soldier of the former chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, said they decided to quit PDP for the APC so as to attract development in Esan land and due to the developmental strides of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

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