Peoples Democratic Party Clears Katsina Council Polls

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Saturday, cleared the local government election in Katsina State, as the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) boycotted the exercise.

Tribune gathered that winners of the election will be sworn into their respective offices tomorrow. The PDP won all the chairmanship and councillorship posts.

Other political parties that contested in the election are the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and three others.

There was large turnout of voters in virtually all the local government areas.

While answering questions from journalists thereafter, Governor Ibrahim Shema said the PDP remained the party to beat in Katsina, explaining that he would have loved his party to contest the election with all others, particularly the APC.

“The state electoral body fixed the price of forms at N250,000 for the office of chairman and N100,000 for that of councilor. The opposition parties complained that the money was too high. The body slashed it by 50 per cent, yet they could not pay.

“The electoral body gave 30 days notice for submission of forms. They complained that it was too short. It gave them another 30 days grace, yet, they complained before they were given another 35 days grace.

“It was after this that they sought refuge in the judiciary by asking it to stop the election. They went to the Federal High Court in Abuja before returning to Katsina High Court, both of which turned down their request. The only sensible thing to do next is to conduct the election,” he said.