The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) Chairman, Hajiya Hajara Mohammed, has assured that there is no plan by the commission to rig the October 19 council election in the state.
She warned politicians to refrain from violence and hate speech before, during, and after the election period.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement and sensitization meeting on Saturday, the chairman urged all political parties to support the officials assigned to their constituencies in conducting free, fair, peaceful, and credible elections.
According to her, the election will take place on October 19, 2024, as announced by the commission.
She reiterated, “There is no plan to rig the election; that is why we have been working tirelessly to ensure a level playing field for all candidates. Our plea to the voting public is for their full cooperation.”
Mohammed advised political parties to accept defeat in good faith, saying that there will always be another election.
Members of other political parties objected to a comment made by Barrister Mahmud Lawal Ismail, Chairman of the House Committee on Education at the State Assembly, who claimed that the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), would win all 23 local government chairmanship positions and councilorships in the state.
His statement angered leaders of other political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who staged a protest in response.
Speaking outside the meeting hall, PDP State Chairman Edward Marshal called on lovers of democracy to stand against such comments, stating that no single person or party is greater than Nigerians.
He asserted that the PDP would stand for truth and justice, expressing optimism about winning the next election, despite dissatisfaction with the commission’s handling of the electoral processes.
