By Lawal A. Dogara, Kaduna
Opposition political parties in Kaduna State have said that they will never participate in any programme organized by the State Independent Electoral Commission until a realistic time table and programme for the local government elections are released.
The opposition political parties had earlier in Kaduna on Thursday boycotted the SIECOM’s sensitization of voter education programme.
Spokesman of the opposition political parties in the state , Umar Farouk Ibrahim, while briefing newsmen in Kaduna said that after a critical study of Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai’s activities and programmes as regard the local government elections in the state and SIECOM’s activities directed by governor El-Rufai, it was very clear that the governor is not interested and willing to conduct local government poll within the period of his administration.
He said, “The so called process is a charade aimed at short changing the electorate.
“It is obvious and crystal clear that the Kaduna State government has usurped the functions of the so called Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission and rendered its independence doubtful.”
The opposition noted that in spite of a High Court judgment directing the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct local government election within 90 days since November 2016, the directive had not been complied.
Instead, he said, the APC led administration went ahead and procured Electronic Voting Machines, EVM, before the law backing the process by the State House of Assembly is debated and passed.
