Secretary to the Jigawa State Government (SSG), Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, has claimed that opposition political parties shunned the Saturday’s local government polls to escape humiliating defeat.
Ibrahim said this while fielding questions from newsmen after casting his votes in Birninkudu town, Birninkudu Local Government Area.
He spoke against the backdrop of the boycott of the exercise by the opposition parties.
He further disagreed with the reason in some quarters that the opposition boycotted the elections due to the high cost of the nomination forms fixed by the Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission (JISIEC).
He said, “It is because of the overwhelming support APC enjoys in the state that intimidated them and they feel that they are going to waste their resources.”
He said that the All Progressive Congress (APC) had been winning elections at all levels in the state since 20215.
“APC is overwhelmingly strong in the state and is becoming stronger, more indomitable and indispensable by the day.
“So, appreciate our opponents for refusing to participate in the election because they know they are going to fail,” he said.
The SSG said that the party fielded credible candidates for both chairmanship and councillorship positions in the 27 LGAs.
According to him, the party is poised to produce council chairmen with integrity, who will serve the people well.
“The APC candidates are expected to work hand-in-hand with Gov. Umar Namadi in order to serve people at the grassroots,” he said l
He described the election as peaceful and gave assurance that the new leadership would provide dividend of democracy to the people at the grassroots.
“Our expectation at the end of the election is to have credible leadership at the grassroots.
“Our governor has been acknowledged as a very innovative governor as far as governance, social and economic development are concerned.
“So, our elected chairmen will work hand-in-hand with him to develop the state,” he said.
A correspondent, who monitored the exercise at Lambun fairah (442), View centre (004) and Guruzawa (047), reports that the election was generally peaceful.
APC fielded candidates 27 Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates, PDP fielded two Chairmanship cndidates for Gwaram and Kafinhausa and Councillorship for Kudai in Dutse and Dubantu in Hadejia LGAs.
The NNPP fielded Chairmanship candidate for Ringim Local Government only.