PDP, ADC to consider participation in July 11 Edo council poll
By Osagie Otabor, Benin • APC begins sale of nomination forms Indications have emerged that major opposition political parties in Edo State, African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peoples Democratic Party
By Osagie Otabor, Benin
• APC begins sale of nomination forms
Indications have emerged that major opposition political parties in Edo State, African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), may not participate in the forthcoming local government elections scheduled for July 11.
Guidelines released by Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) said political parties are to conclude primaries, including resolution of disputes, by April 8.
The guidelines said political parties are to begin campaigns on April 24.
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Checks showed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun sale of nomination forms ahead of its primary on April 3.
It was learnt that ADC and the PDP are yet to start sale of nomination forms or fix a date for their primaries.
Edo ADC Chairman, Kennedy Odion, said the party would a take a decision to contest the local government election after attending stakeholders’ meeting to know readiness of EDSIEC to conduct credible polls.
Odion, who spoke in a phone chat, said EDSIEC needed to give opposition parties a blueprint on preparation for the council election.
He said: “They need to give us a blueprint on the preparation for the election and how they are going to do it. They will assure us that the results will get to the polling units and not the results they will write at the Government House.”
If they are going to write the results, why waste our time and resources to participate in a shadow election? We will not be subjected to a blackmail where they will say we didn’t do well in the election.
“I have told our people to be on standby and hopefully we will participate in the election. I want them to commit themselves to a free and fair election so that when they do contrary, we will also tell the world.”
State Chairman of Edo PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, said the party stakeholders would meet to decide whether to participate or not.
Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, said the party would conduct its primaries.
He said: “There will be primaries on the 3rd of April. It will be free and fair except they arrive at a consensus. Even at that, they will still go to the field to affirm it. APC is a structured and organised party that takes internal democracy very seriously.”
