LGs Poll: PDP excluded for failing to follow KWSIEC guidelines – APC Chair
By Kayode Adeoti
The Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC), Offa chapter has blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for being architect of its exclusion from the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
The APC chairman in Offa, Alhaji Kolawole AbdulAzeez Aro in a chat with Pilot Politics yesterday stressed that PDP was excluded because it failed to follow the guidelines of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC).
The chairman added that the exclusion of the party from the race is a pointer that only APC is genuine, organised and capable of delivering dividends of democracy to the people.
Aro added that the PDP shouldn’t blame anyone for it misfortune anymore, noting that the law permits every registered political party to participate in the poll, but it jettisoned the opportunity.
“It only shows that it is only APC that is the reliable party in the area. The door is widely opened for all registered political parties to participate in the forthcoming election, but PDP has failed to do so. They are the pioneer of their own problem, and they shouldn’t blame anyone for it any longer.
“For now, I cannot say precisely if there is any other party in the area that will be contesting with us, but KWSIEC has statistics of parties featuring in the poll. Our conscience is clear, we won’t do evil because we want to vie for political positions. There is a laid down guideline for all registered parties, but PDP failed to follow it and that is not our making,” he explained.
Recall that the PDP, Offa chapter was excluded in the race because it could not meet up with the deadline for payment of nomination forms.
The KWSIEC chairman, Alhaji Uthman Ajidagba had said that the commission would not consider extension for the submission of nomination forms, adding that the action was in consonance with the laws guiding the exercise.