The Labour Party (LP) in Kaduna State has categorically rejected the results of the recent local government elections held on October 19, 2024, declaring its intention to pursue justice through the courts. In a statement issued by Elder Yusuf Solomon Danbaki, the Chairman of the Labour Party Caretaker Committee, the party alleged that the election was marred by significant electoral fraud.
Danbaki asserted that, contrary to official announcements, the election never occurred as reported. He claimed that Hajiya Hajara Mohammed, the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECOM), appeared to be acting under duress while declaring all 23 chairmanship and 255 councillorship positions as won by the All Progressives Congress (APC), even as voters awaited essential materials necessary for the election process.
The Labour Party accused SIECOM of deliberately withholding vital election materials, such as ballot boxes and result sheets, in several polling units, effectively rendering the election process nonexistent. Furthermore, the party claimed that SIECOM imposed illegal fees on candidates, requiring ₦2 million from chairmanship candidates and ₦500,000 from councillorship candidates, despite receiving funding from the state government.
Danbaki also expressed concerns about the legitimacy of APC candidates, alleging they were not selected through democratic primaries but were instead handpicked by the governor, undermining internal democracy and electoral integrity in the state. He remarked, “This lack of internal democracy is another indicator that puts our democracy in danger.”
The party criticized the conduct of SIECOM Chairperson during the results announcement, noting her visible distress, which suggested she was pressured to announce the fraudulent results.
In their statement, the Labour Party outlined several demands, including the nullification of the election results, an investigation into the illegal fees imposed on candidates, and the conduct of a fresh election under fair and transparent conditions. They called on the judiciary to uphold justice for those whose rights were violated and announced plans to file a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the results.
Additionally, the Labour Party committed to launching a public awareness campaign to inform citizens of their rights and planned to protest against the alleged electoral malpractice. They urged civil society organizations and international bodies to condemn SIECOM’s actions and called for immediate electoral reforms to prevent further erosion of democratic values in Kaduna State.
Danbaki concluded the statement with a strong warning: “If we do not take action now against this moral decay within our political system, we risk allowing it to consume not only Kaduna State but also Nigeria as a whole by 2027.”