Kaduna LG poll: State govt planning to hijack appointment of returning, collation officers – PDP alleges

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kaduna State chapter, has alleged that the officials of the state government are planning to hijack the appointment of both the wards and local government returning/ collation officers for the October 19 council elections.

Briefing newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday, the state chairman of PDP, Edward Percy Masha, said, “The PDP wishes to call on the Government of Kaduna State and the security agencies that the constitutional task on them is to maintain law and order in the country and our dear state.”

He explained that the electoral laws in Kaduna State provides that the Returning Officer shall announce the result and declare the winner of election at the Ward Collation Centre in the case of Councillor and Local Government Collation Centre in the case of Chairman and vice.

Masha further explained, “The Commission shall for the purpose of an election, under this law appoint and designate such officers as may be required provided that no person who is a member of a political party or who has openly expressed support for any candidate shall be so appointed.

“The officers appointed under this section shall exercise such functions and duties as may be specified by the Commission in accordance with the provision of this law and shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority other than the Commission in performance of their functions.”

He alleged that a meeting was held on the 7th October, 2024 at the office of the Attorney General of Kaduna State between the chairperson of the commission, the Attorney General of the state and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, stressing that they were officially saddled with the responsibilities by the state government of doing all it takes to manipulate the outcome of the 19th October, 2024 council election.

He also called on the PDP members of the State House of Assembly to ensure they did the needful towards having credible, free and fair council elections in the state.