The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has clinched all chairmanship and councillorship seats in the local government elections conducted across Taraba State’s 16 local government areas on Saturday, following the withdrawal of opposition parties from the race.

Announcing the results on Sunday, the Chairman of the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC), Philip Duwe, declared PDP candidates winners in all the contests, both at chairmanship and councillorship levels.

Naijaonpoint reports that Duwe described the election as “peaceful, transparent, and reflective of the will of the people,” adding that the process went smoothly across the state.

He said, “The election was peaceful, transparent, and reflected the wishes of the electorate.”

Before the polls, seven political parties had withdrawn from participating, citing objections to the electoral guidelines released by the commission.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), which initially challenged the TSIEC’s guidelines in court, later withdrew its case. The party reportedly cited the planned defection of Governor Agbu Kefas and some PDP members to the APC as part of its reasons for backing out of the election.

Following the declaration of results, TSIEC presented certificates of return to all elected chairmen and councillors on Sunday.

Naijaonpoint understands that there have been speculations around the possible defection of Governor Kefas to the APC.